The Bombay High Court has referred a significant legal question to a larger bench regarding the denial of furlough to prisoners convicted under special laws, such as the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). This decision, made on April 10, arose from a petition filed by Rohit Tangappa Joseph, an aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, who was denied furlough by Amravati prison authorities based on a December 2024 amendment that imposed a blanket ban on furlough for certain serious offences. The court expressed concerns that such restrictions violate fundamental rights and undermine the reformative objective of granting furlough. It emphasized that denying furlough based solely on the nature of the offence fails to consider the individual circumstances of prisoners and their need to maintain family connections. The court noted that while furlough is a conditional privilege, imposing broad restrictions based on specific convictions could be counterproductive and detrimental to the rehabilitation process. Joseph, convicted of murder and conspiracy, had sought a 28-day furlough to address family emergencies. The court's ruling seeks to clarify the legal framework surrounding furlough eligibility and its implications for convicts under special statutes.