Overview
- Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed Deepak Srivastav’s plea challenging the rule as violative of Articles 14 and 21.
- The court said Clause F(3) of Standing Order No. 01 of 2019 is supplemental to the Delhi Prisons Rules and reaffirmed that seeking furlough is not an absolute right.
- Judges found a reasonable classification between convicts who remained in continuous custody and those who re-enter jail after bail or suspension of sentence.
- The order requires a one-year period of conduct monitoring from the date of readmission before a convict becomes eligible to be considered for furlough.
- Srivastav, who surrendered on November 13, 2024, remains ineligible until November 13, 2025, with the court directing that any post-date application be decided promptly subject to law and conduct.