Convicts too must breathe fresh air, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: Convicts too “must breathe fresh air” and be allowed to maintain social ties provided they show a tendency to reform, the Supreme Court has said and favoured a “humanistic approach” while dealing with pleas for parole or furlough to those serving long jail terms.

A bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan asked the government to update its rules, framed way back in 1955, on granting of parole and furlough, saying these were skeletal in nature. It referred to one of the objectives of awarding punishment and said it was about reformation of the convicts.

“There is an imperative and immediate need for updating these Rules thereby including comprehensive provisions in the light of the discussion...So as to provide suitable guidelines to those who have to consider such applications for grant of parole,” it said, adding that the copy of its verdict be sent to the ministry of law and justice. 

The bench, however, said a person must remain in jail for the period of sentence awarded to him or her.