Goa inspector general of prisons on Tuesday faced the Bombay High Court’s ire for handling the parole and furlough applications in a “mechanical manner”.

A division bench of Justices M S Sonak and Nutan Sardesai noted Inspector General (Prisons) Rajendra Mirajkar refuted parole and furlough requests of prisoners without any logic.

The bench made the observation while hearing a plea filed by Naguesh Gaonkar, lodged in one of the jail in North Goa district asking for parole.

“Prima facie we find that the IG, Prisons, is shirking the responsibility by virtually abdicating his discretion to the dictates of the superintendent of police,” the bench said, and added “Even the reports of the superintendent of police are issued in a mechanical manner”.

The bench directed Mirajkar to file an affidavit disclosing when he assumed the office of IG (Prisons), details of parole and furlough applications dealt by him since taking charge of the office and how many such applications were permitted and discarded.

It further noted that several pleas were being filed due to “mechanical approach” adopted by police in denying parole and furlough applications.

The matter will be again heard after two weeks.

—India Legal Bureau