‘Offences are grave...’: Kerala HC denies parole to rape convict to attend wife’s post-funeral rites

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has refused to grant emergency parole to a man convicted of raping a minor girl, ruling that allowing him to attend the 16th-day post-funeral rites of his wife would be inappropriate given the seriousness of his crimes.

The plea was filed by the convict's sister, who sought 10 days of emergency parole on his behalf. However, the High Court dismissed the petition, observing that sufficient leniency had already been extended by permitting him to attend his wife's funeral.

"The offences for which the petitioner's brother was convicted are grave and heinous in nature, involving rape, aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor child, and robbery. Showing leniency in granting parole to a convict found guilty of aggravated penetrative sexual assault and the rape of a minor girl is wholly unwarranted," it said.

The bench further noted that granting parole in such a case would undermine the purpose of the criminal justice system.

The court observed that granting parole to a convict found guilty of such grave offences would send a wrong message to society and would be contrary to the objective of the penal law.

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"Moreover, maximum leniency has already been shown to the convict by permitting him to attend his wife's funeral, which he did," it said.

The High Court also pointed out that the convict's request for emergency parole had already been examined and rejected by the competent authority, which concluded that the reasons put forward did not warrant the relief sought.

After reviewing the matter, the court held that there were no extraordinary or compelling circumstances to justify overturning that decision, particularly in view of the nature of the offences.

"The grant of emergency parole, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, would not be justified. Accordingly, the writ petition fails and is dismissed," it said. (PTI)