In order to check the misuse of the parole facility the government is planning to make amendments in the prison manual. The government has been receiving flak for granting parole to actor Sanjay Dutt for more than 30 days the third time since March 30. The incident had triggered a debate across news channels and social media. Even though RR Patil had proposed changes in the Prison manual act but the Bharatiya Janata Party has come forward to take credit for it. Convicts will have to mandatorily serve additional term to cover up for the number of days availed to escape jail. A convict can avail maximum 90 days’ parole.
BJP spokesperson Shaina NC took credit for the government’s decision to amend the Prison Manual Act. She said, “The BJP had intervened in this matter which prompted RR Patil to make changes in the parole granted to convicts. We had criticised the government’s decision to grant parole to Sanjay Dutt just because he is an actor. The laws should remain the same for everyone. Finally, the government has taken the right decision in the interest of the common man.”
The saffron party had earlier filed PIL in court pertaining to granting parole to Sanjay Dutt and why special treatment is being provided to him?
When AV contacted Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant about the parole issue he remained tight lipped about it. He said, “If the government is reviewing the parole guidelines then I would like to welcome it. I don’t want to comment about Sanjay Dutt as the laws are framed for everyone without discrimination.”
Speaking about the government’s decision to extent Sanjay Dutt’s parole Home Minister R R Patil said, “We cannot interfere in the sanctioning of parole. As per the rules, if a panel of doctors issues a certificate of any illness and convicts produce it to avail parole, it will have to be granted.”
“However, to ensure individuals are not misusing the parole to escape jail, the new rules will incorporate a clause whereby it will be mandatory to complete the scheduled tenure” he added.
“If a convict has to serve six years’ term, and if he has availed 250 days’ parole beyond the sanctioned limits, he will have to serve additional 250 days.”
BJP state President Devendra Fadnavis criticised the state government’s lenient attitude towards Sanjay Dutt. He said, “The government is granting special privilege to Sanjay Dutt just because he is an actor and possess political connection. BJP strongly condemns this impartiality and the state government is planning to review the parole policy just because our party had raised objections against it.”
Sanjay Dutt was convicted by the Supreme Court for illegal possession of arms in relation to the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. He had served 18 months of his jail term earlier and had surrendered himself to the TADA court on May 18th, 2013 to serve the remaining punishment.
