Rajasthan High Court Issues Show Cause To District Collector, Jail Superintendent Over Delay In Deciding Convict's Emergent Parole

The Rajasthan High Court recently issued show cause notice to the Jail Superintendent and the District Collector in Bikaner, seeking their explanation over one month's delay in deciding the emergency parole application of a convict, whose mother had passed away.

The bench comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Rameshwar Vyas observed that Court has time and again directed the jail as well as parole authorities to remain vigilant while deciding the emergent parole applications and to ensure that orders are passed thereupon within 7 days of presentation.

Further, under Rule 23 of the Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 2021, an application for emergent parole is required to be decided within 4 days of presentation.

In this backdrop, te Bench remarked,

"Apparently, the Superintendent, Central Jail, Bikaner as well as District Collector, Bikaner have acted in contempt of this Courts' directions as also in gross non-compliance of Rule 23 of the Rules of 2021."

Thus, the court ordered that the District Collector and the Jail Superintendent to remain present before it on the next date of hearing and show cause as to why appropriate disciplinary proceedings may not be directed against them.