Parole violation: Karnataka High Court directs prison officials to educate inmates on consequences
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed prison authorities across the state to raise awareness among inmates about the consequences of violating parole conditions and the punishments that may follow if they fail to surrender within the stipulated period after temporary release.
The court also instructed the prison department to publish a bilingual (Kannada and English) booklet, prepared in collaboration with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), explaining the rights and duties of prisoners released on parole, the conditions imposed, and the legal actions that can be taken in case of violations. Copies of this handbook should be distributed to inmates and their families.
The directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by a woman convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. She had challenged the trial court’s decision to impose an additional two-year sentence after she failed to surrender to prison authorities within the prescribed time following her parole release. Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum heard the petition.
The High Court held that violating parole conditions and failing to surrender within the stipulated time constitutes a distinct offence amounting to indiscipline and breach of lawful custody. Therefore, a convict must undergo the additional sentence for parole violation after completing the original term of imprisonment. The court clarified that the two sentences, original and for parole violation, will remain separate.
The bench also issued guidelines to ensure that parole conditions are clearly explained in a language the inmate understands at the time of release. Prison authorities must also obtain a written declaration confirming that the inmate comprehends the terms and the consequences of non-compliance.
The petitioner, a woman from Revuru village in Bagalkote district, had been convicted under the POCSO Act. She was granted parole for one month starting March 9, 2022, which was later extended by another 30 days. She was required to surrender to the Vijayapura prison on June 8, 2022, but failed to do so, thereby violating parole conditions.
Following a trial, a magistrate court in August 2023 sentenced her to an additional two years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1,000. The sessions court later upheld the order, prompting her to approach the High Court.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
