Karnataka HC directs state to consider parole applications of convicts/prisoners who have undergone more than 14 years in jail

In a bid to decongest jails during the Coronavirus lockdown, the Karnataka High Court recently passed an order directing the state to consider the parole applications of those prisoners/convicts who have undergone more than 14 years' imprisonment as expeditiously as possible..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice BV Nagarathna passed the order while dealing with a plea praying for the parole of life convicts and prisoners who have undergone more than 14 years of imprisonment."As far as this prayer is concerned, if the concerned prisoners apply for grant of parole, the State will consider the application in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible.".With respect to non-compliance of Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Court stated that no specific cases had been pointed out. Section 436A provides for the release of undertrials who have undergone detention for a period extending up to half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the offence they were booked under..The Court also looked into the uploading of bail orders immediately so as to ensure that the concerned prisoner is able to avail the order at the earliest. The issue was directed to be dealt with by the Registry. The Registrar General has been asked to issue necessary directions in this regard to all the courts in the state. .At this juncture, the Court further pointed out that, "....the facility of e-filing of the urgent matters has been made available in all the Districts and Trial Courts in the State. Therefore, in case of urgency, the prisoners can always apply for grant of bail by taking benefit of e-filing.".The Court added that prison authorities would permit those prisoners who wish to apply for e-filing of bail applications to submit requests on the designated e-mail addresses of the concerned courts..After passing these directions, the Court has disposed of the matter. Advocate Moinuddin N is the petitioner in the matter. Advocate Sirajuddin Ahmed appeared for the petitioner..Earlier this week, the Karnataka High Court issued another set of directions pertaining to various issues such as PPE, masks for hospital staff, migrant workers, COVID-19 testing facilities[Read orders here]