Yerwada inmates: Will strike if government bans parole for serious offences

Over 200 inmates of Yerwada Central Prison in Pune have warned of going on a hunger strike if the state government does not revoke its latest amendments in prison rules, which prohibit regular parole and furlough for convicts jailed for serious offences such as murder and rape.

“More than 200 inmates have given a letter to us saying they want the amendments to be cancelled. If the amendments are not revoked, they will go on a hunger strike. We will forward this letter to the state government,” said U.T. Pawar, the jail superintendent at the Yerwada prison.

But sources said that the inmates have already started their hunger strike, refusing food in the jail. But the jail superintendent has denied these reports.

The state government, through a notification issued on August 26, has amended Prison Rules, 1894, thus denying parole and furlough to convicts sentenced for serious crimes including rape, murder, dacoity and terror acts. The decision was taken after a convict in a murder case in Mumbai disappeared during parole.

The notification in this regard said that the necessary amendments to the Maharashtra Prisons Rule, 1959 have been made and, from now onwards, convicts sentenced for offences like dacoity, terror, mutiny against the state, kidnapping for ransom, smuggling of narcotic or psychotropic substances, rape and rape with murder will not be granted parole.

The notification adds that all prisoners eligible for furlough shall be eligible for regular parole. As per the amended rules, a person whose appeal against conviction in a higher court is pending will not be granted furlough.

Also, if any other cases filed against him either by the Centre or state in any of the courts are pending, and for which bail has not been granted by the related courts, the person will not be eligible for furlough.