Rapists, dacoits, kidnappers and terrorists won't get parole in state

Following cases of prisoners jumping parole, convicts in rape cases, dacoity, kidnapping and terror attacks will not get parole in Maharashtra.

"The Home Department will soon issue the notification of the amendments in the prison rules," said Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar.

Blanket ban
Apart from convicts who are serving time for mutiny against the state, kidnapping for ransom, illegal business of narcotics or psychotropic substances, human traffickers and the prisoners sentenced to life will not get parole.

Myopic view
Prof. Vijay Raghavan, Centre for Criminology & Justice, School of Social Work, at TISS said, "One case of bad judgment should not be the yardstick for changing policies without a careful analysis of the overall scenario. The percentage of parolees absconding is far too less to warrant such drastic steps. Coming up with such blanket orders, taking away the discretionary powers from the prison authorities, is akin to ruling out the possibility of certain class of offenders ever returning to society as responsible citizens."

Convicts could avail of parole in case of emergency like the death of relatives, and marriage of children or siblings, said an official.