Manju Devi v. State Of U T Chandigarh And ORS

In The High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana At Chandigarh Date of Decision:- 09.09.2025 Manju Devi ... Petitioner

Versus

State of U.T. Chandigarh and others ... Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GURVINDER SINGH GILL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPINDER SINGH NALWA Present:- Mr. Hoshiar Singh Jaswal, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Kanwar Pal Singh, Addl. Public Prosecutor, U.T. Chandigarh.

***** GURVINDER SINGH GILL , J . (Oral) 1.

The petitioner is seeking a direction to the respondents to temporary release her on Parole/Furlough on her personal bond. She is stated to have been convicted under Section 302 and 201 IPC in FIR No.43 dated 12.04.2016 and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.12,000/-, and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for 01 year and 02 months. She is stated to have undergone actual sentence of over 8 years.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner had applied for temporary release which has been accepted by the Competent Authority but

- 2 - a condition of furnishing a surety in the sum of Rs.20,000/- was imposed. The petitioner is a poor lady and has not been able to arrange the surety. He, therefore, submits that she be temporary released on parole/furlough on furnishing personal bond of Rs.20,000/-. He relies upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court passed in 'SMWP (Criminal) No.4/2021 decided on 31.01.2023' wherein the directions have been issued for avoiding the delay in releasing of prisoners after getting bail and it has been held that if the bail bonds are not furnished within one month from the date of grant of bail, the concerned Court may suo moto take up the case and consider whether the conditions of bail require modification/relaxation. He further submits that the petitioner is ready to appear before the Police Station Sarangpur, Chandigarh, which is close to her house as per conditions imposed by the Court.

3.

Learned counsel for the respondent-U.T. Chandigarh submits that the petitioner is a resident of Chandigarh and it would be difficult for her to arrange surety. In the alternative he has suggested that if this Court is granting the benefit of release on personal bond then she be directed to appear before the Police Station.

4.

The applicant is stated to be a poor lady and has not been able to furnish surety bonds. She is convicted under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment. As per the custody certificate dated 09.09.2025, she has undergone actual sentence of 8 years and 11 days. She is stated to have been granted the concession of parole/furlough on earlier occasions and had surrendered in jail on its expiry and did not misuse the concession.

- 3 - 5.

Competent Authority shall release the petitioner on parole/furlough subject to her furnishing personal bonds in terms of order dated 30.08.2024. 6.

The petitioner is directed to appear before the Police Station Sarangpur, Chandigarh, which is stated to be near to her home on every Monday. 7.

With the above observations, the petition stands disposed off. ( GURVINDER SINGH GILL ) JUDGE ( DEEPINDER SINGH NALWA ) 09.09.2025 JUDGE mohan Whether speaking /reasoned Yes / No Whether Reportable Yes / No