70-day parole for life convict to pursue doctorate

Ingle,a prisoner serving life imprisonment at the open jail in Paithan in Aurangabad,is studying for a doctorate in Sociology from the Nagpur University. The Bombay High Court was hearing a writ filed by Ingle seeking to be released on parole for 70 days to do research work for his doctorate.

Ingle had earlier moved the plea before the competent authority including the Divisional Commissioner Aurangabad and Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG) of Aurangabad on December 27,2008,for being released on parole for 90 days for appearing for his B-Tech exams and doing field research work for his doctorate,which was turned down.

The prison authorities,as per rule 19 of the Maharashtra Prisoners Manual,turned down Ingle’s plea. Going by the rule,a convict cannot be released on parole for more than 30 days at a stretch. However,the court observed that under Prison rules 16 and 20,a convict can get upto 90 days of parole.

The High Court granted him interim relief and allowed him to stay on parole even though the jail authorities had told him to report back on February 28,after completing a 20-day parole.

Granting this liberty,the bench observed,“Taking into consideration the qualifications acquired by him while undergoing life imprisonment and the fact that he is studying to rehabilitate himself,interim relief can be granted¿”

The bench also stated that the prison authorities had not complained of any misconduct on the part of convict,which is why he has been released on parole several times earlier to pursue his degree and diploma courses.

Thus,the court on March 16 extended Ingle’s parole by 70 days and directed him to report to the prison on May 9,after completing his research work.

Ingle’s lawyer V D Rakh said,“Ingle has been in custody for the last 15 years for murder of a neighbour over a petty issue in 1992. In prison,he completed his LLB and has now taken up engineering and doctorate.”