Ram Chand Gupta, J.@mdashThe present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 3(1)(d) of Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962 (for short the ''Act'') read with Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Rules, 1963 (for short the ''Rules'') has been filed for release of petitioner on parole for conducting repair of his house.
2. Reply filed on behalf of State.
3. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the whole record carefully.
4. It has been contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that prayer of the petitioner for releasing him on parole has been declined by the competent authority without sufficient cause and without application of mind.
5. On the other hand it has been contended by learned counsel for the State that under the Rules competent authority sought recommendation of the District Magistrate and that as per the report of the Superintendent of police, after inquiry, it was found that the petitioner has committed rape upon a girl of unsound mind of the same village and hence, release on parole of the petitioner at this stage is likely to result in breach of public peace in the village and hence it is contended that it cannot be said that the impugned order rejecting the request of the petitioner for releasing him on parole is not based on sufficient grounds.
6. Section 3 of the Act provides for release of a convict on parole, which reads as under:-
3. Temporary release of prisoners on certain grounds:- (1) The State Government may in consultation with the District Magistrate and subject to such conditions and in such manner as may be prescribed, release temporarily for a period specified in sub-section (2) any prisoner if the State Government is satisfied that:-
(a) a member of the prisoner''s family had died or is seriously ill; or
(b) the marriage of the prisoner''s son or daughter is to be celebrated; or
(c) the temporary release of the prisoner is necessary for ploughing, sowing or harvesting or carrying on any other agricultural operation on his land and no friend of the prisoner or a member of the prisoner''s family is prepared to help him in this behalf in his absence;
(d) it is desirable to do so for any other sufficient cause.
(2) The period for which a prisoner may be released shall be determined by the State Government so as not to exceed-
(a) where the prisoner is to be released on the ground specified in clause (a) of sub section (1), two weeks;
(b) where the prisoner is to be released on the ground specified in clause (b) or clause (d) of sub-section (1), four weeks; and
(c) where the prisoner is to be released on the ground specified in clause (c) of sub- Section (1), six weeks.
(2-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), where a prisoner undergoing a sentence of life imprisonment, is to be released on the ground specified in Clause (d) of sub-section (1); he may be released for a period of six months or less in parts, during the five years.
(3) The period of release under this Section shall not count towards the total period of the release of a prisoner.
(4) The State Government may by notification authorise any officer to exercise its power under this section in respect of all or any of the grounds specified therein.
7. The application was given to the Superintendent Jail under the Rules and thereafter recommendation of the District Magistrate was sought by the competent authority.
8. Section 6 of the Act deals with the cases in which parole can be declined by the competent authority, which reads as under:-
6. Prisoners not entitled to be released in certain cases. - Notwithstanding anything contained in Sections 3 and 4, no prisoner shall be entitled to be released under this Act if, on the report of the District Magistrate, the State Government or any officer authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that his release is likely to endanger the security of the State Government or the maintenance of public order.
9. Hence, competent authority can decline the request to release the petitioner on parole if the release is likely to endanger the security of the State or the maintenance of public order.
10. In the present case the allegations against the petitioner accused are that he being married committed rape upon a girl of unsound mind of the same village. Hence, on inquiry by Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate, it came out that parents of the girl as well as villagers objected for his release and that there was apprehension of breach of public peace in case the petitioner is released on parole. Hence, the present case is fully covered u/s 6 of the Act as release of the petitioner is likely to endanger the maintenance of public order.
11. Therefore, it cannot be said that request of petitioner has been declined by the competent authority without any sufficient cause warranting interference by this Court.
12. There is no merit in this petition. Hence, the same is, hereby, dismissed.
