HC upholds validity of rule mandating 1-year ‘watch period’ for convicts before furlough
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the validity of a prison authorities’ order mandating a one-year “watch period” for convicts before becoming eligible for furlough upon returning to jail after their appeals against conviction are dismissed. HC upholds validity of rule mandating 1-year ‘watch period’ for convicts before furlough The high court passed the judgment while dismissing a petition seeking to declare a clause of a 2019 standing order issued by the Director General as ultra vires the Constitution, being violative of Article 14 and 21 and the Delhi Prison Act and Rules. The court also refused to grant the alternative place that, in place of a one-year watch period, a period of six months would be reasonable. A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the standing order was issued in exercise of general administrative powers of the DGP and does not infringe on any provision in the Delhi Prisons Act or the Delhi Prisons Rules. The court also rejected petitioner Deepak Srivastav’s contention …
