The central legal point established in the judgment is that the arbitrary misuse of powers by the authorities in denying premature release, despite the petitioner fulfilling the parameters of the Premature Release Policy dated 08.07.1991, is unjust and cannot be justified based on reasons such as non-payment of fine, change of address, and lack of familiarity in a new location.

DEEPAK GUPTA, J.

By way this criminal writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, prayer is made for issuance of writ in the nature of certiorari to quash impugned order dated 10.5.2022 (Annexure P/3); and further writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondents to release the petitioner prematurely, in view of the Government Policy dated 08.07.1991 (Annexure P/1).

2. Petitioner was convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of ?2,50,000/- with default sentence of 5 years in case FIR No.58/2004, under Sections 302 /34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Islamabad, Amritsar by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge (Ad hoc), Amritsar. Appeal filed by him was dismissed by this Court on 21.07.2010 in CRA-434-DB-2008.

3. According to the petitioner, he has already undergone more than 15 years and 6 months of actual sentence of imprisonment and more than 23 years with remission, though as per the Government Policy dated 08.07.1991 (Annexure P-1), he is required to undergo 10 years actual sentence and sentence of 14 years by including remission period. Repeated representations made by the petitioner to the Government for his premature release have been dismissed from time to time with last such order passed on 10.05.2022 (Annexure P/3).

4. As per reply filed by way of affidavit of Shri Surinder Singh, Superintendent, Central Jail, Amritsar on behalf of all the respondents, petitioner was required to undergo minimum of 10 years actual sentence and 14 years actual or with remission, as his case is to be considered under the simple category of Premature Release Policy dated 08.07.1991. As on 19.02.2023, petitioner had already undergone actual sentence of 14 years, 01 month and 12 days by excluding the parole period; and total sentence by including remission is 22 years, 01 month and 12 days and thus, petitioner fulfills all the conditions given in the Punjab Government Premature Release Policy dated 08.07.1991. His case for premature release was initially initiated on 07.02.2014, but the same was rejected by the Government on 22.06.2016 on the ground of non-payment of fine of ?2,50,000/- to the heirs of the victim as per judgment of conviction and also on the ground that he had committed prison offence on 21.07.2014. Petitioner then filed CRWP -10160-2021 before this High Court for his premature release. Vide order dated 26.10.2021, the Court directed to decide the representation of the petitioner within three weeks by passing speaking order. However, the premature release case of the petitioner was not recommended by the District Magistrate vide his letter dated 25.02.2022 (Annexure R-4) on the ground that family of the petitioner was no longer residing at the address provided by the petitioner and had shifted to some unknown place. Petitioner then filed COCP-340-2022 regarding premature release, but the same was withdrawn on 29.09.2022, so as to challenge the order dated 10.05.2022. Petitioner again applied for premature release by mentioning his present address to be that of Ludhiana, where his brother resided, but again District Magistrate, Ludhiana did not recommend premature release of the petitioner on the ground that he had never availed parole/furlough earlier on the address provided by him; that he was involved in three criminal cases at Amritsar including murder, fighting and causing hurt; that he had earlier remained proclaimed offender; and that he can disturb public peace at Ludhiana, where he was not known to anyone. The status report of the respondents further reveal that opinion of the Presiding Judge was also obtained regarding the premature release and vide letter dated 16.12.2022, learned District and Sessions Judge, Amritsar commented that there was no restriction imposed by the Court qua remission/premature release of the convict and that Government could consider the case of convict as per their policy. Thus, respondents in fact supported the ca