JUDGMENT

MANISH PITALE,J. - Heard. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard with the consent of the learned counsel appearing for the parties.

2. A letter dated 16/10/2020 was addressed by the petitioner to this court seeking relief of being released on emergency parole (Covid- 19). Prayer made on behalf of the petitioner for the aforesaid relief was rejected by order/letter dated 19/09/2020 passed by respondent Superintendent, Nashik-Road Central Prison.

3. By order dated 12/04/2021, this Court passed an order appointing Advocate Mr. Abhishek Bhadang from the legal aid panel to appear on behalf of petitioner before this Court. Accordingly, today, when the petition was listed for consideration, Advocate Mr. Abhishek Bhadang was heard on behalf of the petitioner. Mr. Deepak Thakre, learned PP submitted a report dated 26/04/2021 before this Court.

4. Mr. Bhadang, learned counsel appointed to appear on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has already undergone more than 23 years of imprisonment. It was submitted that even though he is a convict in the Mumbai railway bomb blast case that occurred in the year 1998 and he has been sentenced to suffer imprisonment f