2010 Supreme(Raj) 1247
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Govind Mathur, C.M.Totla, JJ.
Gani Khan - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 343 of 2002.
Decided On : 22-02-2010
For the Appellant: None Present.
For the Party:N.A. Naqvi, Additional Advocate General.
Headnote:Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Prole Rules, 1958, Rule 3 – A convicted person may be released on parole by the Parole Committee/District Magistrate or any other authority prescribed under the Rules of 1958 other than the Courts – The parole is subject to checks and conditions prescribed under the Rules – Under the aforesaid rule the any accused whose trial is pending is not entitled for parole during its pendency.
"WHETHER the Parole Committee/District Magistrate or any other Authority other than the Courts are authorised to release the convicts on parole under the Rajasthan Parole Rules, when the trial or appeal is pending?"
"10. It may thus be inferred that when a prisoner is released temporarily before the expiry of a sentence on the promise of return to jail, he is released on parole. To release a prisoner on parole is an executive function to be exercised within the limits. Release on parole does not change the status of prisoner. It is a provisional release from confinement but is deemed to be a part of the imprisonment. In Rajasthan a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year may, subject to exceptionally good behaviour, be allowed by the Superintendent Jail, to submit an application for parole, which has to be forwarded to the District Magistrate who may further forward it to the appropriate committee. If a prisoner who has completed with remission, one fourth of his sentence, subject to good conduct in Jail, may be released on first parole for 20 days. In emergent cases the Superintendent of Jail has right to grant parole upto a period of seven days.
11. So far as suspension of the sentence for the period when the appellate Court, is in seizin of the appeal is concerned it can be granted by the appellate Court itself Under Section 389 Cr.P.C. When the application of a prisoner seeking suspension of sentence is rejected and criminal appeal is pending, in that eventuality the prisoner, in our opinion still has a right to move an application for parole if he has completed with remission, one fourth of his sentence subject to his good conduct in jail. In emergent cases however application may be disposed of by the Superintendent of Jail as per parole rules.
12. Since orders granting parole are to be passed during the pendency of criminal appeals preferred by the prisoners, we issue following directions:
(i) It shall be the duty of Superintendent Jail to make an endorsement about the details of pendency of the criminal appeal, before forwarding the application to the District Magistrate.
(ii) If the District Magistrate takes decision to further forward the application to the Parole Committee, the information shall necessarily be sent forthwith to the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court for enclosing the same with the pending appeal of the prisoner.
(iii) The decision taken by the Parole Committee shall also be forwarded to the High Court without any delay.
(iv) In the event of granting emergent parole it shall be the duty of Superintendent Jail to immediately transmit copy of the order to the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court for appending the same in pending appeal."