Sukbar Sidar v. State Of Chhattisgarh

NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR Writ Petition (Cr.) No.94 of 2020 Sukbar Sidar, S/o Shri Ghasiya Sidar, Aged about 52 years, R/o Village Bonda, Post Chhichhor Umariya, Police Station & Tahsil Pusour, District Raigarh (C.G.) ---- Petitioner

Versus

1. State of Chhattisgarh, Through the Secretary, Home (Jail) Department, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Raipur (C.G.)

2. The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Chhattisgarh, Head Quarter Prisons and Correctional Services Chhattisgarh, Raipur (C.G.)

3. The Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Raigarh (C.G.)

4. The Superintendent of Police, Raigarh (C.G.)

5. The Jail Superintendent, Central Jail, Bilaspur (C.G.) ---- Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Petitioner:

Mr. Rishi Rahul Soni, Advocate.

For Respondents / State: - Mr. H.S. Ahluwalia, Deputy Advocate General, on advance copy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal Order On Board 05/02/2020

1. The petitioner's application for grant of leave on parole has been rejected principally on the ground that he has not served the period of three years or one half of the total period awarded, therefore, he is not entitled to be released on parole.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that such an order passed is contrary to Section 31-A(3) of the Prisoners Act, 1900.

3. Learned State counsel would support the impugned order.

4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and considered their rival submissions made hereinabove and also went through the record with utmost circumspection.

5. Section 31-A(3) of the Prisoners Act, 1900 provides as under: - "31-A. Temporary release of prisoners.-(1) The State Government or any authority to which the State Government may delegate its power in this behalf may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by rules, release temporarily for a period not exceeding ten days in a year excluding the time required for journeys and the days of departure from and the arrival at the prison, any prisoner who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years.

(2) xxx xxx xxx

(3) No prisoner shall be released under sub-section (1) unless- (a) he has, at the time of his release served one half of his sentence including remission or a period of not less than two years of his sentence, including remission, whichever is less ;

(b) his conduct in prison has been good ; and (c) twelve months have elapsed from the date of the expiry of the period of his previous release, if any, under this section.

(4) xxx xxx xxx"

6. The petitioner has been awarded sentence that imprisonment for life for which he is undergoing sentence and he is in jail since 17-5-2017. Admittedly, the petitioner has served more than two years in terms of Section 31-A(3) of the Prisoners Act, 1900, therefore, the finding recorded by the District Magistrate is contrary to the Act and the rules made thereunder. Further, considering the fact that the villagers have

made no objection of release of the petitioner on parole and the Jail Superintendent has also given report that his conduct is proper, the impugned order is set-aside and the writ petition is allowed. The petitioner shall be released on parole for a period of 10 + 2 days subject to furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- and a surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the District Magistrate. He will immediately surrender himself after completion of the aforesaid period. 7.

No order as to cost(s).

Sd/- (Sanjay K. Agrawal) Judge Soma