Around 250 prisoners go on a hunger strike and non-cooperation movement after learning that the state has amended furlough and parole rules to ban them completely for those convicted of heinous crimes
Officers patrolling the Yerawada Central Prison
It was pandemonium at the Yerawada Central Jail (YCJ) yesterday when around 250 inmates decided to follow Gandhi’s footsteps and go on a hunger strike along with non-cooperation movement. What were they not cooperating with? The recent amendment to the prison manual related to furloughs and parole and the decision to scrap it for heinous crime offenders.
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Issue at hand
Last week, after a convict in a murder case jumped parole in Mumbai, the state government decided to amend the prison rules to completely ban furlough and parole for prisoners convicted of rape, murder, narcotics smuggling, dacoity and terror activities.
To that end, the state brought in the Maharashtra Prisons (Mumbai Furlough and Parole) Amendment Rules 2016 and in a notification issued on August 26, announced the change in policy. The policy also affects those inmates whose appeals against convictions are pending in higher courts.
Drama unfolding
When the inmates at YCJ found out on Tuesday about the amendment, of the 4,300 total prisoners — 3,500 undertrials and 800 convicted — around 250 prisoners refused their food and water. Later, Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, additional director general (Prisons) and UT Pawar, superintendent of the jail, addressed the concerns of the prisoners and convinced them to give up on their strike.
Sources in the prison said, “Initially, when the rumours about complete cancellation of furlough and paroles went around, there was a panicked atmosphere. Later, the prison officials interacted with inmates via the internal Lai Bhari Radio station, wherein they clarified that the amendments were only applicable for those convicted of heinous crimes like rape and murder. Following that, though the atmosphere cooled down, 170 prisoners insisted on continuing their protest which they finally called off at 3 pm on Wednesday.”
Superintendent says
UT Pawar, superintendent of YCJ said, “The number of such inmates who had threaten to go on hunger strike was around 120. Last night, they denied their food, but we left it there anyway and this morning, some of them had eaten. Later, the prison chief interacted with the remaining inmates and requested them to eat the food and call off the agitation and instead give us their grievances in writing. Around 5 pm, all inmates wrote their confidential grievances and ultimately called off their fast.”
Not fair, say legal eagles
Senior lawyer Mohanrao Dhongre said, “This amendment is wrong as remission of parole and furlough is granted to jail inmates for his/her personal reasons. On one hand, we are talking about abolition of capital punishment and reformative measures, and on another, curbing his human rights. Additionally, the divorce rates will increase as the inmate’s partner can demand divorce on grounds of desertion.”
Another lawyer Milind Pawar said, “This is unconstitutional and in violation of the Fundamental Rights laid down under the Constitution in article 21 and 22 that talks about the rights of accused.”
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