The Karnataka High Court has directed the state to take active steps to consider the parole application of life convicts and prisoners who have undergone more than 14 years’ imprisonment.
While passing the order, a Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice BV Nagarathna stated, “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 the other grievance concerning the non-compliance of Article 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 which deals with the release of detained undertrials who have undergone half of the maximum amount of imprisonment as specified for the offence for which they are booked, the court ruled that no specific case had been pointed out.
Keeping in mind the urgency of the situation, the court also dealt with the issue of uploading of bail orders with a view to ensure its availability to the concerned prisoner at the earliest. The same shall be dealt by the Registry and the Registrar General has been asked to issue the necessary directions regarding the same in all courts.
To ease the present conditions in the state, the facility of E-filing has been made available in the District and Trial courts for all urgent matters. Hence, prisoners can apply for bail via E-filing. Adding that the prison authorities would assist the prisoners in the above the court stated, Needless to add that the Prison Authorities will permit the prisoners who wish to apply for e-filing of bail applications to submit requests on the designated e-mail addresses of the concerned Courts.
Passing the above orders the court disposed of the matter.
Order attached herein
