Jodhpur, Oct 6 The Rajasthan High Court has directed the state government to comply with its August 3 order and release self-styled godman and rape-convict Asaram on 20-day parole.
A division bench of justices Nupur Bhati and Sanjeet Purohit on Monday also asked the government to submit a report on his release, observing that his conviction in another state cannot by itself prevent him from availing parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General BL Bhati informed the court that Asaram had also been convicted by a Gujarat court.
Bhati argued that under Rule 14(A), he should have approached the Gujarat High Court for parole, particularly since his application for emergency parole had already been rejected there.
Asaram's counsel, however, argued that the Rajasthan High Court had already granted him parole and that the order remained operative.
The high court observed that the state had failed to point out any legal basis to render its earlier parole order ineffective.
The court also noted that there was neither any challenge to the order before the Supreme Court nor any application seeking its recall.
In view of this, the bench directed the authorities to comply with the August 3 order and release Asaram on 20-day parole, while also directing the state to submit a report regarding his release.
