India, Oct. 26 -- Delhi High Court has ruled that any punishment affecting a convict's furlough or remission eligibility must follow due process, cautioning that such actions could not be based on "presumptions" or "vague suspicion".

"Even within prison discipline, the principles of natural justice and the procedure prescribed in the rules must be observed, particularly where a punishment has severe consequences or may affect statutory benefits, such as remission or furlough. A major punishment, carrying such consequences, cannot be sustained merely on presumptions or general suspicion," the bench of justice Sanjeev Narula said in an order dated October 15.

The court was dealing with a petition filed by an inmate, challenging Tihar jail...