Justice Kailash Gambhir noted that in normal cases, the government takes three to six months to decide parole applications of convicts, but it cleared Manu’s plea in 20 days.
The prolonged parole to Manu Sharma, killer of model Jessica Lall, has landed Sheila Dikshit in the dock. The Delhi chief minister may have to do a lot of explaining for giving preferential treatment to the son of former Union and Haryana minister and Congress MLA Venod Sharma, ignoring the fact that he’s a life convict and dozens of other inmates in the overcrowded Tihar Jail have been yearning for such a remission for long.
“It’s clear that only the rich and the powerful get parole,” the Delhi high court observed on Friday, taking the Dikshit government to task while hearing the parole plea of Connaught Place shootout convict Sumeer Singh who wants to himself prepare his case against the conviction since his family is illiterate.
Justice Kailash Gambhir noted that in normal cases, the government takes three to six months to decide parole applications of convicts, but it cleared Manu’s plea in 20 days. He was released for two months on September 22 to “tend to his ailing mother” in hometown Chandigarh, but was spotted at a Delhi pub this month. Earlier, his hale and hearty mother was caught on camera addressing a press conference.
“The list of parole applications depicts a dismal picture, showing the government (Delhi) is giving least priority to pleas of convicts. No doubt the home department has given selective treatment to some convicts because of their high connections,” Gambhir said.
A Delhi government affidavit says 372 people sought parole till November 18 this year, but only 72 were granted, 202 rejected and 98 are pending.
Three-time CM Dikshit claims due procedures were followed in granting Manu parole. The police, however, do not agree. A senior jail officer said the period of parole is deducted from the sentence. “It is a bounty for influential prisoners. They can come in and go out at the pleasure of political leadership,’’ the officer said, adding, “But poor convicts are destined to languish without break.”
Manu has been repeatedly denied bail and on May 12 last year, Supreme Court (SC) judge CK Thakker said, “The manner in which the crime (murder of Lall) was committed and the gravity of the offence clearly makes no case for grant of bail.”
Former Delhi high court judge RS Sodhi, who sentenced Manu to life, said, “How many people below poverty line and of the middle class will be given parole like Manu? This boy is incorrigible.”
“In Delhi, parole is usually given for only 10 to 15 days. Convicts can apply saying they are the sole breadwinners of their families or have destitute relatives,” he said.
VR Krishna Iyer, former SC judge and head of the high-level prisons committee that recommended parole in the first 14 years of a life sentence, said a two-month parole, as was allowed to Manu, for “renewing social contacts” is “rarely given”.
As per Article 161 of the Constitution, parole is considered in the case of a life convict only after the first 14 years.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}