High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
R. S. GARG
DHANSINGH - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF M.P. - Respondents
W. P. 2537 Of 1995
Decided On : 03/31/1997
PRISONERS' RELEASE ON PROBATION ACT - SECTION 2 - RELEASE ON PROBATION - CONDITIONS - CONSIDERATION OF ANTECEDENTS AND CONDUCT IN PRISON - REJECTION OF APPLICATION - JUDICIAL REVIEW - SCOPE.
Fact of the Case:
Several petitions were filed by prisoners challenging the rejection of their applications for release on probation under the M.P. Prisoners' Release on Probation Act, 1954. The petitioners had completed the required period of imprisonment and had received recommendations for release from the Probation Officer, Superintendent of Police, and District Magistrate. However, the Probation Board and the State Government rejected their applications on various grounds, including the nature of the offense, the manner in which it was committed, and the antecedents of the petitioners.
Finding of the Court:
The Court held that the orders rejecting the petitioners' applications were not in accordance with the law. The Court observed that the Probation Board and the State Government had failed to consider the relevant factors in determining whether the petitioners were likely to abstain from crime and lead a peaceable life if released on probation. The Court also held that the Board had mechanically rejected the applications without considering the totality of the circumstances in each case.
Issues: 1. Whether the Probation Board and the State Government had considered the relevant factors in determining whether the petitioners were likely to abstain from crime and lead a peaceable life if released on probation? 2. Whether the Board had mechanically rejected the applications without considering the totality of the circumstances in each case?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court held that the Probation Board and the State Government had failed to consider the relevant factors in determining whether the petitioners were likely to abstain from crime and lead a peaceable life if released on probation. The Court observed that the Board had not considered the antecedents of the petitioners prior to the commission of the offense, their conduct during the trial and in prison, and the recommendations of the Probation Officer, Superintendent of Police, and District Magistrate. 2. The Court also held that the Board had mechanically rejected the applications without considering the totality of the circumstances in each case. The Court observed that the Board had simply cited the nature of the offense and the manner in which it was committed as reasons for rejecting the applications, without considering the individual circumstances of the petitioners.
Final Decision: The Court quashed the orders rejecting the petitioners' applications and directed the Board to reconsider the cases within a specified period.
( 1 ) IN W. P. No. 2537/1995 (Dhansingh v. State of M. P. and others), petitioner Dhansingh was convicted under Sections 302/149 IPC, 325/149 IPC, and 323/149 IPC and was sentenced to undergo R. I. for life. R. I. for 3 years and R. I. for six months respectively, the sentences to run concurrently in Sessions Trial No. 105/84 by the Third Additional Sessions Judge, Damoh on 25-9-86. On completion of more than five years, the petitioner submitted his application for release on probation, duly signed by his guardian. According to the petitioner, the Probation Officer, Superintendent of Police Damoh and the District Magistrate, Damoh recommended his case for release but the probation Board rejected his case by its order dated 17-4-95. By the petition, the petitioner submits that his case was wrongly rejected by the Board and the extreneous material is taken into consideration. The respondents in their return have contended that after considering the antecedents and the totality of the circumstances, the Board was of the opinion that the petitioner was not entitled to be released on licence, rightly rejected the application of the petitioner.
( 2 ) IN W. P. 426 of 1997 (Ashok Kumar Chourasia), petitioner has been convicted under Section 302/34 IPC and has been sentenced to undergo R. I. for life in Sessions Trial Nos. 57/82, 82/82 and 83/82 on 12-1-84 by First Additional Sessions Judge, Chhatarpur. On completion of more than five years, he filled up his probation form duly signed by his guardian. His case was recommended by the Probation Officer, S. P. and District Magistrate, but the Probation Board illegally rejected his case. According to him, he had filed M. P. No. 2519/92 challenging the earlier order of the Board, wherein the order of the State Government was quashed and it was directed that his case be reconsidered within a period of six months and if the case remains undecided, he be released on bail. Petitioner was thereafter released on bail on 17-9-93. The case of the petitioner was meanwhile rejected on 5-7-93, therefore, he had filed M. P. No. 137/94. By order dated 9-12-94 in M. P. No. 137/94 this Court directed that the State Government shall dispose of the petitioner's case in accordance with law within a period of six months from the date of receipt of this order. The petitioner submits that his case has been rejected by the Probation Board but the State has not confirmed the order of the Probation Board, therefore, the respondents be directed to decide the case of the petitioner and they be also directed not to take the petitioner in custody. In the present case no return has been filed. It does not appear from the records that the petitioner's case has been disposed of by the probation Board or the State Government. As the order dated 9-12-94 takes full care of the petitioner's case, no further orders in this petition are needed. This W. P. No. 426/97 is disposed of. If the petitioner's case is rejected then he shall be free to challenge the order passed by the appropriate authority but before doing so, he shall surrender in accordance with the order under which he has been released.
( 3 ) IN W. P. No. 4928/96 (Sanjay Gupta) petitioner was convicted under Section 302 IPC and was sentenced to undergo R. I. for life by Third Additional Sessions Judge, Chhindwara in Sessions Trial No. 111/89 on 23/190. According to him on completion of more than five years, he filled up his probation form duly signed by his guardian. The Probation Officer, S. P. and District Magistrate recommended his case for release. According to the petitioner, the report of the probation officer clearly stated that the opposite party or the rivals were notresiding in the locality of Junnardeo where the incident took place and as the prosecution witnesses Rajendra and Ramesh Rai had no objection to release on probation he could be released. The Probation Board on 26-8-96 rejected the petitioner's case. The petitioner submits that t
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