Parole Extension Can't Be Rejected Without Reasons: Karnataka High Court Directs Fresh Consideration Of Murder Convict's Plea

The Karnataka High Court has quashed an order rejecting parole extension for a convict incarcerated for 18 and a half years in a murder case, directing the authorities to consider his application for 30-day parole extension.

Justice M.G.S. Kamal observed that the Sections 640 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Service Manual allows grant of general parole for 30 days, which can be extended for another 60 days, while Section 642 of the Act mandates a prisoner to apply for an extension 10 days before the last day of general parole.

The High Court found that that the petitioner's application for parole extension suffered from no procedural errors.

“By order dated 19.06.2026, the petitioner was granted parole for a period of 30 days and was required to surrender on or before 20.07.2026. The petitioner had indeed made an application on 25.06.2026, which was well within the time prescribed under Section 642 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Service Manual, 2021. Therefore, procedurally, there can be no error on the part of the petitioner in seeking extension of parole,” the Court said.

It, however, noted that the order rejecting the extension plea did not disclose any reason behind it.

Taking into account the compliance with the prescribed time limits, the Court held, “this Court deems it appropriate to quash the order dated 13.07.2026 at Annexure-D and remit the matter to respondent No.2 for reconsideration.”

Additionally, the Court directed the Belagavi Central Prison chief superintended to forward the file to Director General, Office of Correctional Services, Karnataka State, Bengaluru, who shall consider the petitioner's parole extension of 30 days and pass appropriate order within 15 days.