The Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday directed the central jail in Thiruvananthapuram to release a 65-year-old man on parole for five days after securing permission from the Home Ministry. The man was convicted on charges of rape and has been in jail for the last 11 years.

The convicts wife had approached the Commission saying that her plea to seek her husband’s parole was not being considered by jail authorities. The Commission then sought a report from the Jail Department as to why the request was not being considered.

Quoting the amendments made to jail rules made by the Government, the department said it was difficult for rape convicts to get parole unlike other convicts. It also said that the particular convict had gone on parole 21 times in the last 11 years.

The convict’s wife, in her application, said that she wanted to meet her husband as she was unwell.