Chandigarh, February 15, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned Punjab’s Principal Secretary (Jails) to appear in the court during the next hearing due to delays in submitting a compliance report on the granting of parole to detainees or prisoners as per court directions.
Mentionably, in September 2024, a full bench of the High Court had ruled that parole cannot be denied solely on the basis of the recovery of a mobile phone from a prisoner or detainee unless there is a substantial reason for refusal. The division bench comprising Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Sumit Goel noted that Haryana’s Director General of Prisons had already submitted a compliance report on September 20, 2024, but Punjab government had not yet provided any report.
During the hearing the court questioned Punjab’s legal counsel on why the report on parole implementation had not been submitted despite the court’s clear directions. The case is being heard by a five-judge full bench, including Justice Sureshwar Thakur, Justice Deepak Sibal, Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, Justice Meenakshi I. Mehta, and Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj.
The bench emphasized that the right to a fair hearing is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, and a detainee or prisoner cannot be deprived of this right merely because a mobile phone was found in their possession while in jail. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for March 6, 2025.
