Friday, 07 May 2021 | PNS | Nainital
Hearing on the public interest litigation seeking parole for prison inmates in the state considering the Covid-19 surge, the Uttarakhand high court has directed the high powered committee to hold a meeting on this issue within two weeks. The division bench headed by the chief justice RS Chauhan also directed that no inmate should be released on parole without first undergoing a Covid test. The court has sought a report in the matter by June 6.
During the hearing of the petition on Thursday, the inspector general of prisons, AP Anshuman was also present via video conferencing. It was stated on behalf of the petitioner that last year, a high level committee had been formed in the state on the directions of the Supreme Court last year regarding the release of jail inmates on parole. On the recommendation of this committee, 699 inmates had been released on parole last year. On Thursday the division bench of chief justice RS Chauhan and justice Alok Kumar Verma directed the high powered committee to hold a meeting within two weeks and take a decision on the release on those prison inmates on parole who are sentenced to seven or less than seven years.
