Kochi, 25 July (H.S.):The Kerala High Court has refused to grant emergency parole to a convict serving a sentence for the sexual assault of a minor girl, ruling that extending such relief in cases involving grave and heinous crimes would send a wrong message to society.

Dismissing a petition filed by the convict's sister seeking 10 days of emergency parole, the court observed that the prisoner's request did not warrant judicial intervention as the competent authorities had already examined and rejected it in accordance with the law.

The plea was filed to enable the convict to attend the sixteenth-day death ceremony of his wife. However, the High Court noted that the prisoner had already been granted permission to attend his wife's funeral, which itself constituted the maximum concession that could reasonably be extended under the circumstances.

The court held that granting further parole would run contrary to the objectives of the penal system and undermine the seriousness with which society views offences involving sexual crimes against children. It observed that showing leniency to convicts sentenced for such grave offences could weaken public confidence in the justice system.

The High Court further stated that the authorities had carefully considered the application for emergency parole before rejecting it. They had concluded that the reasons cited by the convict did not satisfy the legal requirements for granting temporary release.

Emphasising the gravity of the offence and the absence of any exceptional or compelling circumstances justifying emergency parole, the court ruled that there was no reason to interfere with the decision taken by the prison authorities.

Accordingly, the petition was dismissed, with the court reaffirming that parole is an exceptional relief and cannot be granted as a matter of routine, particularly in cases involving serious crimes against children.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman