Delhi High Court summons State Home Secretary over repeated delay in deciding parole applications

The Delhi High Court has summoned the Delhi's Principal Secretary (Home) over repeated delays by jail authorities in deciding parole applications [Lalit @ Lucky v Sate of NCT of Delhi].

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said the Home Secretary must be present in the Court on November 6 with an explanation and suggestions on how to solve the problem.

"However, considering that this Court is flooded with these matters and repeated directions have not yielded in any result, the Principal Secretary (Home), NCT of Delhi, is directed to appear in person on November 6, 2025 along with an explanation and also the response as to how this problem is sought to be streamlined," the Court ordered.

Justice Krishna issued the direction while granting parole to murder convict Lalit alias Lucky, whose plea had remained pending for more than two months despite clear timelines prescribed under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.

Lalit had applied for parole in July 2025, citing his father’s deteriorating health and his own mental distress due to long incarceration as grounds for temporary release.

However, the authorities failed to act on his request even after the statutory four-week period had lapsed.

Justice Krishna expressed strong displeasure at the conduct of the authorities, stating that there have been many cases where the Prison Rules have been violated with impunity and the officials "do not have any sensitivity towards the prisoners like petitioners, who are suffering long incarceration".

"It is not realized that non-grant of Parole/Furlough within the fixed time frame, only results in unrest and defeats the very purpose of Parole/Furlough, which is to enable them to establish family ties and to not fall into depression and stress because of long incarceration," the Court observed.

The Bench said that even though several orders have been passed by the Courts directing the State agencies to show sensitivity, it appears that the government officials sitting in their offices, have no respect/regard either for law or for the persons in jail.

"Such instances, which have been repeatedly demonstrated by the State agencies, only show their defiance to the very objective of introducing provisions of furlough/parole and have no respect or care for the prisoners and their mental and physical health. It also reflects that they are not cognizant that such long incarceration without break by way of parole and furlough, can in fact lead to a situation of indiscipline and anarchy in the Jail itself," the Court added.

Therefore, it summoned the Home Secretary.

The Court also granted parole of four weeks to the petitioner.

Advocates Vrinda Bhandari and Pragya Barsaiyan appeared for the petitioner.

Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) Rupali Bandhopadhya along with advocates Abhijeet Kumar and Amisha Gupta represented the State.

[Read Order]