High Court rejected the parole plea of Delhi University’s former professor G.N. Saibaba

On 18^th July 2020 the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising of Justices Z A Haq and AG Gharote rejected the parole plea of G.N. Saibaba. He had fled the plea to attend his mother’s post- funerary rites.

In March 2017 Saibaba, a journalist and a student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU), in total four people were arrested for waging war against the Nation under Section- 121 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Saibaba was convicted by the Court under various provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act(UAPA), 1976, and the Indian Penal Code of 1860.

The Counsel appearing on behalf of the Government, PK Sathianathan argued that most of the funeral – rites are complete.  Saibaba is suffering from 90% of physical disabilities and is wheel-chair bound. Last month also he filed a plea as his mother was sick, but his plea was rejected by the jail authorities.

While rejecting the plea the Court opined that since it is difficult to arrange a Security Personnel who would escort him to Hyderabad for the funerary rites off his 74- year- old mother. The Court, however, directed the Nagpur jail authorities to make special arrangements for him so that he can be a part of the rites through a video call. Presently he is serving life- sentence as he was accused of having links with the Maoists.

Therefore, the Court rejected to grant parole to Saibaba as it would be difficult to arrange for security personnel to escort Saibaba from Nagpur to Hyderabad in view of the pandemic.

*The order will be uploaded on LatestLaws.com once the HC site is updated