Manjit Singh v. State Of Punjab And Others

CRM-M No.27955 of 2024 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ***** CRM-M No.27955 of 2024 Date of decision : 12.11.2025 Manjit Singh .............Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and others .......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. N.S. Swaitch, Advocate, for the petitioner Ms. Aiman J. Chishti, AAG, Punjab --- SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL) 1.

The substantive prayer made in the petition reads thus: 'It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that the present petition may kindly be allowed and appropriate direction may kindly be issued to the respondents for releasing the wages approximately of Rs.1,00,000/-of the petitioner, which he earned during his custody period in the jail in the interest of justice.'

2.

Upon being called upon, State has furnished reply way of affidavit of Sucha Singh, Superintendent, Central Jail, Shri Goindwal Sahib, relevant whereof reads thus:

'7.

That it is respectfully submitted that the payment against labour work done by the petitioner during custody as convict in Maximum Security Jail Nabha and Central Jail Shri Goindwal Sahib has been deposited in his bank account No.520291023016043 of Union Bank of India, and detail is given below :-

CRM-M No.27955 of 2024 -2S. No.

Name of Jail Time period Wages paid (Rs.) Wages credited To bank account (Rs.) Paid via e-purse (Rs.) Remarks Maximum Security Jail, Nabha 9/2018 to 6/2019 4020/- 1005/- Amount credited in bank account on 24.7.2019 7/2019 to 10/2019 395/- Amount credited in bank account on 5.2.2020 11/2019 to 4/2020 8320/- 6240/- 2080/- Amount credited in bank account on 2.9.2020 29.4.2020 to 18.4.2021 --- --- --- Convict was released on parole and parole was extended due to COVID-19 Guidelines w.e.f.

29.4.2020 to 18.4.2021 5/2021 to 12/2021 8160/- 8160/- --- Amount credited in bank account on 2.8.2024 2.

Central Jail, Shri Goindwal Sahib 1/2022 to 17.3.2022 2560/- 2560/- --- Amount credited in bank account on 7.8.2024 Total 24640/- 21,160/- 3480/- 8.

xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx 9.

That it is respectfully submitted that the petitioner has already been paid the due payment as per the rules for the labour work done by him in jail during his custody as Convict. The facts made by petitioner in writ petition are completely false and baseless, According to the rules, only the convicted prisoners are entitled to get the wages against their hardship done in the jail and no under trial prisoner is entitled to get the monetary benefit during the remand period.

10.

That it is respectfully submitted that required due wages as per rules, have already been paid by the office of Maximum Security jail Nabha and Central Jail Shri Goindwal sahib to the petitioner on account of his work done in custody in Maximum Security Jail Nabha and Central Jail Shri Goindwal Sahib. Therefore, no further payment is lying pending from the said jails. Hence the allered amount of Rs. 1,00,000 (One Lac) is wrong and denied.'

3.

In view of above, it, thus, emanates that adjudication of the lis in hand involves disputed question of fact, which cannot be go into the

CRM-M No.27955 of 2024 -3writ jurisdiction. The present petition is accordingly dismissed with liberty to seek appropriate remedy as enunciated in law. 4.

Needless to say that dismissal of the petition in hand shall not be construed as an expression of opinion upon the merits of the case and the same shall be delved into by the concerned Court/authority wherein the petitioner raises his claim(s).

(SUMEET GOEL) JUDGE 12.11.2025 Ashwanii Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No