Quick answer: Parole, furlough and interim bail
They are three different things. Parole and furlough are temporary releases for convicted prisoners, applied for through the jail administration. Furlough is a reward for long-term convicts (in Delhi, a sentence of five years or more with three years served). Interim bail is a court order, sought while a trial or appeal is pending. If an application is rejected or not decided in time, the High Court can be approached by a writ petition. Call +91-8800669834.
Written and reviewed by Adv. Mridul Jindal, Advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi (2021) · Last updated 1 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Furlough (Delhi): leave as a reward for a convict with five years or more of rigorous imprisonment who has served three years (Delhi Prisons Act, 2000, Section 2(1)(h)).
- Yearly cap: up to seven weeks in a conviction year, as recorded by the Delhi High Court in a judgment of 5 January 2026 (Rule 1221, Delhi Prison Rules, 2018).
- Decision time: four weeks for a furlough application, as recorded in the same judgment (Rule 1229).
- Breach: release can be cancelled and the prisoner arrested without a warrant (Section 54, Delhi Prisons Act, 2000).
- Uttar Pradesh: parole is a suspension of sentence under the 2007 Rules, normally up to one month; the UP Jail Manual has no furlough.
- Remedy: writ petition (criminal) in the Delhi High Court or the Allahabad High Court.
Parole, furlough and interim bail: what is the difference?
| Parole | Furlough | Interim bail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Convicted prisoner | Long-term convict | Accused or appellant |
| Why | A specific reason, such as a family emergency | Reward for good conduct | Urgent personal or medical reasons |
| Counts as sentence served? | Generally no | Yes | Not applicable |
| Who decides | Jail and prison authorities | Jail and prison authorities | The court |
How to apply in Delhi
- Confirm the prisoner is eligible (sentence, years served, conduct record).
- File the application through the jail Superintendent with documents that support the reason (medical papers, marriage card, death certificate and so on).
- Track the decision. Note the date of filing, because a decision is expected within the time in the rules.
- If the application is rejected without good reason, or not decided in time, consider a writ petition in the Delhi High Court.
Uttar Pradesh (Ghaziabad, Dasna jail): suspension of sentence
In UP, parole is granted as a suspension of sentence under the Uttar Pradesh (Suspension of Sentences of Prisoners) Rules, 2007, which the UP Jail Manual 2022 refers to for parole (para 250 and Appendix 16). The UP Jail Manual does not provide for furlough.
- Grounds: illness of a parent, spouse, child or sibling; death of such a relative; marriage of a son, daughter, brother or sister; sowing or harvesting on the prisoner's own land if no other arrangement is available; essential repair of the house if no other arrangement is available (Rule 3). The prisoner's own illness is not listed.
- Period: up to one month, extendable by one more month in special circumstances (Rule 3). The District Magistrate can suspend a sentence for up to 72 hours for the death of, or marriage in, the close family (2012 amendment). Beyond two months needs the Governor's prior approval, and the total ordinarily should not exceed twelve months (Rule 4).
- Who may apply: the prisoner, or a family member or close relative, in Form-I through the jail Superintendent. The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police send their reports within 30 days, and the State Government decides (Rule 5).
- Sureties and bond: sureties and a personal bond to the District Magistrate's satisfaction are required (Rule 5(4)).
- Minimum time served: one year without remission in most cases; three years for a life sentence for murder; four years for dacoity (Rule 6(1)).
- Limits: the days outside do not count as sentence served, and suspension is generally allowed once a calendar year (twice in exceptional family cases) (Rule 6).
- Who is excluded: prisoners with an appeal or revision pending against the sentence, and prisoners with any other criminal case pending in a court (Rule 1(4)). Release may also be refused for a heinous offence or a habitual offender if the District Magistrate or Superintendent of Police thinks it could disturb the peace (Rule 6(2)).
- Overstaying: late surrender is recorded as indiscipline and blocks the next application for months or years, depending on the delay (Rule 7).
A separate route is release on licence under the U.P. Prisoners' Release on Probation Act, 1938, generally after one-third of the sentence is served. Home leave under the manual is limited to the Model Prison at Lucknow. If a UP application is rejected, a writ petition can be filed in the Allahabad High Court.
Prisons and courts we work with
Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini jails in Delhi, the Delhi High Court, and for Uttar Pradesh matters the jails near Ghaziabad (such as Dasna) and the Allahabad High Court. The chamber is in Niti Khand-2, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. See also bail in Delhi, criminal lawyer in Delhi and writ petitions in the Delhi High Court.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different, so check the current rules and your own facts.
Official sources: Delhi Prisons Act, 2000 (Sections 2, 47, 54, 71) · Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 (Delhi Prisons Department) · Delhi High Court, W.P.(Crl) 646/2025, Vasudev v. State NCT of Delhi (5 January 2026) · UP Jail Manual, 2022 (Chapter 13, Appendix 16) · India Code
Need help with a parole or furlough application?
If a family member is in a Delhi or UP jail, get advice on eligibility, the application and what to do if it is rejected or delayed.
Read also: Parole vs Furlough: Difference, Eligibility, How to Apply
Related: bail in Delhi · criminal lawyer in Delhi · bail in Ghaziabad · writ petitions in the Delhi High Court
Frequently Asked Questions
Parole is a temporary release for a specific reason, such as a family emergency, and the days spent outside generally do not count as sentence served. Furlough is leave granted as a reward to a long-term convict for good conduct, and the sentence keeps running during it. Interim bail is different: it is a court order, which can be sought while a trial or appeal is pending.
The Delhi Prisons Act, 2000 defines furlough as leave as a reward for a convict sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years or more who has served three years of it. The Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 add conditions such as good conduct.
In a Delhi High Court judgment of 5 January 2026 (Vasudev v. State NCT of Delhi), the court recorded Rule 1221 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 as allowing furlough of up to seven weeks (49 days) in a conviction year. Check the current rule and your own case before applying.
The same judgment records Rule 1229 as requiring a furlough application to be decided within four weeks. If there is no decision in that time, a writ petition in the Delhi High Court can be considered.
Under Section 54 of the Delhi Prisons Act, 2000, the competent authority can cancel the release, the prisoner can be arrested without a warrant and sent back to serve the rest of the sentence, and a conviction for the breach can add up to two years or a fine.
Yes. A writ petition (criminal) can be filed in the Delhi High Court against a rejection that is unreasoned or not in line with the rules. In some cases the court has first asked the authority to treat the petition as a representation and decide within a time limit.
Yes. In UP, parole is a suspension of sentence under the UP (Suspension of Sentences of Prisoners) Rules, 2007. It is normally up to one month, for grounds such as illness, death or marriage in the close family, and it is not available if an appeal against the sentence or another criminal case is pending. The UP Jail Manual does not provide for furlough.
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