The Delhi government is in the process of formulating new guidelines to make the process of parole faster.

“The new guidelines were sent to Lieutenant-Governor Tejindra Khanna last week for his approval,” Delhi Home Secretary G S Patnaik said.

The new guidelines will include fixing specific time frame (30 days) for police to complete the verification process for any inmate seeking parole and debar repeated offenders.

Patnaik said after L-G’s approval, the file will be sent to the Delhi High Court for final clearance as the exercise has been undertaken following a directive from the court last year.

Dissatisfied with the slow verification process, Delhi High Court in October last year had directed the government to frame new guidelines to ensure parole applications are disposed of expeditiously.

The process on a parole plea starts with police verification of the inmate’s background. The final clearance has to be given by the chief minister and the L-G.

Asked whether the Chief Minister would still be required to clear the applications as per the new guidelines, Patnaik said, “that procedure will remain as it is.”