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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Pune airport runway restored after IAF aircraft snag; ops resume
Pune (PTI): The runway at Pune airport, which was temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, has now been restored and declared operational, the Air Force said on Saturday.
The authorities at the Pune International Airport had earlier said that around 10.25 pm on Friday, a fighter aircraft experienced an undercarriage failure during landing, causing the runway to be blocked.
As many as 91 flights of airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa, and Air India Express, were affected due to the incident, they said.
Earlier on Friday night, the Air Force had stated that the runway at Pune airport was temporarily unavailable following an incident involving one of its fighter aircraft. The aircrew are safe, and there is no damage to civil property, it had said.
"The runway at Pune Airport, which was temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force aircraft, has now been restored and declared operational. All necessary safety inspections and clearances have been completed. Operations are resuming in a phased manner," it said in a post on X.
Flight operations at Pune airport are being gradually restored. The situation has been brought under control with the highest priority given to the safety of citizens, a Defence PRO said.
