2002 Supreme(MP) 427

2003(1) JLJ 6
Bhawani Singh C.J. and S.L. Jain, J.
Subrato Bachaspati v. State of M.P. and others
L.P.A. No. 212 of 2001; Decided on 11.4.2002.

Headnote:(1) Prisoners Release on Probation Act, 1954 (M.P.) -- S. 2 -- commission of crime for which he is suffering imprisonment is not the only factor -- his antecedents and conduct to be seen.

       Petitioners-appellants were prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for offences like, under sections 304B/498A/302/307/394/325/323/147/148/149/34, Indian Penal Code read with section 27 Arms Act, 1959 respectively. They are undergoing sentences in various jails in the State for the past many years. There is no dispute about their eligibility for seeking release on licence and for this purpose they have been approaching the respondents from time to time. State having rejected their applications for release on licence, the decision has been challenged through various writ petitions filed in this Court. All of them have been dismissed on the ground that under section 2 of the Probation Act, 1954, it should appear to the State Government from his antecedents and his conduct in prison that he is likely to abstain from crime and lead a peaceable life if he is released on licence as in terms of Full Bench decision in Gangacharan v. State of M.P. and others (1994 JLJ 795), his antecedents and his conduct in prison are relevant factors and antecedent would not mean facts preceding the commission of crime alone, but succeeding thereto till he is confined in jail. Therefore, while considering the applications of petitioners for release on licence, the Probation Board took into consideration the nature of crime and the manner of commission. On this basis, it concluded that offence committed was planned and result of conspiracy. The opinion of Probation Board has been approved by the State. [Para 2

       Held: So far as the crime under consideration is concerned, that is a factor but not a sole factor because for that he has already been punished after consideration how he committed it, whether it was blind, whether it is brutal, whether it is committed on notion, etc. etc. Thereafter, his conduct after commission of crime is to be taken into consideration till he is sent to prison. While lodged in prison, his conduct in the prison is to be seen for formation of opinion whether he would abstain from crime and lead a peaceable life if released on probation, meaning thereby he will not repeat offence, will not revert back to the life of criminality; and in case, from material circumstances, the conclusion is that the offence is individual act of crime, not affecting the society at large, it is not against the nation, there is no chance of re-occurrence, he has lost the potentiality to commit crime because of age, his social and economic condition, the relationship with the family of victim etc. are some of the factors which are essential for formation of opinion with respect to premature release of prisoner on licence. 1994 JLJ 795 (FB) relied on. [Para 9

       (2) Prisoners Release on Probation Rules, 1964 (M.P.) -- R. 6(7) (as inserted in 1989) -- application for licence rejected by Government -- prisoner may again make such application after two years.

       By virtue of amendment of 1989, sub-clause (7) has been inserted in rule 6 of the Probation Rules, 1964. It provides that a prisoner, whose application for release on licence has been rejected by the Government, may again make an application in Form-A to the Superintendent after a period of two years. Such application is considered in accordance with the procedure prescribed under the Rules of 1964, meaning thereby, a prisoner can seek his release on licence after expiry of two years from the date his first application was rejected. [Para 4

       (3) Prisoners Release on Probation Act, 1954 (M.P.) -- S. 2 -- M.P. Prisoners Release on Probation Rules, 1964 -- R. 2 -- fundamental question for consideration -- is scope and meaning of his antecedents‘ and ‘his conduct in prison.

       Word ‘antecedents‘ cannot be restricted to the period prior to the commission of crime. Conduct between the date of crime and the date of his entry into prison is also relevant, apart from nature and circumstances of crime. Besides ‘his conduct in prison‘ is also to be considered for examining his request for release on probation. The word ‘antecedents‘ occurring in the Probation Act, 1954, is as wide as can be conceived. 1994 JLJ 795 (FB) relied on.

       The word ‘his‘ has been used twice, to qualify ‘antecedents‘ as well as ‘conduct in prison‘. The expression ‘his antecedents‘ by itself is capable of comprehending within its ambit ‘his conduct in prison‘ also since ‘antecedents‘ would mean ‘antecedent to the consideration by the State Government of the prisoner‘s request for release‘. The Legislature evidently desired to give due importance to ‘conduct in prison‘. 1994 JLJ 795 (FB) relied on. 1996(1) MPWN 232, 1998 CrLJ 1388 and AIR 2000 SC 2762 followed. [Para 5

       (4) Prisoners Release on Probation Act, 1954 (M.P.) -- S. 2 -- formation of opinion, by Government about release of prisoner from prison -- must be based on the consideration of ascertainable facts.

       The formation of the opinion by the State Government as to whether or not the convict shall abstain from crime or lead peaceable life after release from prison must be based on the consideration of the ascertainable facts relating to the antecedents and conduct in prison and not on mere opinion of the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, Probation Officer. 1996 CrLJ 687 relied on. [Para 6

       (5) Constitution of India -- Art. 14 -- State action suffering from arbitrariness -- cannot be sustained whether it is under authority of law or in exercise of executive power.

       No State action can be sustained if it suffers from arbitrariness. The principle of reasonableness and rationality, which is legally as well as philosophically an essential element of equality or non-arbitrariness, is projected by Art. 14 and it must characteris0e every State action, whether it be under authority of law or in exercise of executive power. Every action of the executive Government must be informed with reason. That is the very essence of the rule of law and its bare minimal requirement. 1996 CrLJ 687 relied on. [Para 6

       (6) Prisoners Release on Probation Act, 1954 (M.P.) -- S. 2 -- object of provision under -- is reformation of the offenders.

       "Section 2 of the Act was enacted with a view to encourage people in prison to lead a peaceable life and to give them the opportunity of hospitality and return to the main stream of the society. The same is clear from the object and reasons of the enactment.‘

       Indeed, the object of the Probation Act is reformation of the offender. Section 2 is capable of no other meaning. It contemplates giving to the fallen man a chance of getting himself reformed and rehabilitated. 1994 SCC (Cr) 553 followed. [Para 6

       (7) Order -- suffering from blemish of overlooking or ignoring vital facts -- is bad in law. AIR 1981 SC 70 followed. [Para 6

       ¼1½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 2 && og vijk/k fd;k tkuk gh ,dek= dkjd ugha gS ftlds fy,og dkjkokl Hkksx jgk gS && mldk iwoZjfpr vkSj vkpj.k ns[kk tkuk gksxkA

       ;kph&vihykFkhZx.k vk;q/k vf/kfu;e] 1959 dh /kkjk 27 ds lkFk ifBr Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk dh /kkjk Øe‘k% 304[k@498d@302@307@394@325@323@147@148@149@34 ds v/khu ln`‘k vijk/kksa ds fy, vfHk;ksftr fd, x, Fks] fl)nks"k Bgjk, x, Fks rFkk naMkfn"V fd, x, FksA os jkT; dh fofHkUu tsyksa esa foxr vusd o"kZ ls naMkns‘k Hkksx jgs gSaA mudks vuqKfIr ij NksM+s tkus dh ek¡x dh tkus dh ik=rk ds ckjs esa dksbZ fookn ugha gS vkSj bl iz;kstu ds fy, os izR;FkhZx.k ls le;≤ ij izkFkZuk djrs jgs gSaA muds vuqKfIr ij NksM+s tkus ds vkosnu jkT; }kjk [kkfjt fd, tkus ds dkj.k] og fofu‘p;] bl U;k;ky; esa Qkby dh xbZ fofHkUu ;kfpdkvksa }kjk vkf{kIr fd, x, gSaA os lHkh bl vk/kkj ij [kkfjt dj nh xbZ gSa fd mlds iwoZjfpr vkSj dkjkxkj esa mlds vkpj.k ls ifjoh{kk vf/kfu;e] 1954 dh /kkjk 2 ds v/khu jkT; ljdkj dks ;g izrhr gksuk pkfg, fd ;fn og vuqKfIr ij NksM+k tkrk gS] og xaxkpj.k fo- e-iz- jkT; rFkk vU; ¼1994 ts ,y ts 795½ ds iw.kZ U;k;ihB fu.kZ; esa ;Fkk fuc) mlds vijk/k ls ijgst djus vkSj ‘kkafriw.kZ thou fcrkus dh laHkkouk gS] mldk iwoZpfjr vkSj dkjkxkj esa mldk vkpj.k lqlaxr dkjd gS( iwoZpfjr dk vFkZ dsoy vijk/k fd, tkus ls iwoZ ds ugha] fdarq mlds i‘pkr~ mlds tsy esa ifj:) gksus rd ds rF; gksaxsA blfy,] ;kphx.k ds vuqKfIr ij NksM+s tkus ds vkosnuksa ij fopkj djrs le; ifjoh{kk eaMy us vijk/k dk Lo:i vkSj og dkfjr fd, tkus dh jhfr ij gh fopkj fd;kA bl vk/kkj ij mlus fu"d"kZ fudkyk fd dkfjr vijk/k vk;ksftr rFkk ""kM~;a= dk ifj.kke FkkA ifjoh{kk eaMy dh jk; jkT; }kjk vuqeksfnr dh xbZ gSA ¿ iSjk 2

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % tgk¡ rd ml vijk/k dk ljksdkj gS tks fopkjk/khu gS] og ,d dkjd gS fdarq ,dek= dkjd ugha D;ksafd blds fy, og igys&gh nafMr fd;ktk pqdk gS fd mlus ;g fdl izdkj fd;k] D;k og vfoosfpr Fkk] D;k og vekuoh; gS] D;k og mÌs‘; ij ls Fkk] vkfn&vkfnA rRi‘pkr~] vijk/k fd, tkus ds i‘pkr~ mls dkjkxkj Hksts tkus rd mlds vkpj.k ij fopkj fd;k tkuk gksrk gSA dkjkxkj esa mlds jgus ds le; mldk vkpj.k ;g jk; cukus ds fy, ns[kk tkuk gksrk gS fd ;fn ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k x;k] D;k og vijk/k ls ijgst djsxk vkSj ‘kkafriw.kZ thou O;rhr djsxk vFkkZr~ og vijk/k dh iqujko`fÙk ugha djsxk] vkijkf/kd thou dh vksj ugha ykSVsxk( rFkk rkfRod ifjfLFkfr;ksa ls ;g fu"d"kZ fudyus dh n‘kk esa fd vijk/k] lkekU; lekt dks izHkkfor ugha djus okyk] vijk/kh dk O;f"Vd dk;Z gS] og jk"Vª ds fo:) ugha gS] mlds iqu% ?kfVr gksus dh laHkkouk ugha gS] vk;q ds dkj.k vijk/k djus dh mldh {kerk lekIr gks xbZ gS( mldh lkekftd vkSj vkfFkZd n‘kk] ihfM+r ds dqVqac ls laca/k vkfn dqN dkjd gSa] canh dks le;&iwoZ vuqKfIr ij NksM+s tkus dh jk; cukus ds fy, ftu ij fopkj fd;k tkuk vko‘;d gSA 1994 ts ,y ts 795 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 9

       ¼2½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && fu- 6¼7½ ¼1984 esa ;Fkk var%LFkkfir½ && vuqKk ds fy, vkosnu ljdkj }kjk [kkfjt && canh] ,slk vkosnu nks o"kZ i‘pkr~ iqu% dj ldrk gSA

       1989 ds la‘kks/ku }kjk ifjoh{kk fu;e] 1964 fu;e 6 ds mi[kaM ¼7½ var%LFkkfir fd;k x;k gSA blesa micaf/kr gS fd dksbZ canh] vuqKfIr in NksM+s tkus dk ftldk vkosnu ljdkj }kjk [kkfjt dj fn;k x;k gS] nks o"kZ i‘pkr~ v/kh{kd dks iqu% iz:i&d esa vkosnu dj ldrk gSA ,sls vkosnu ij 1964 ds fu;eksa ds v/khu fofgr izfØ;k ds vuqlkj fopkj fd;k tkrk gS] vFkkZr~ viuk igyk vkosnu [kkfjt fd, tkus ds nks o"kZ lekIr gks tkus ds i‘pkr~ dksbZ canh Lo;a dks vuqKfIr ij NksM+s tkus dh ;kpuk dj ldrk gSA ¿ iSjk 4

       ¼3½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 2 && e-iz- cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk fu;e] 1964 && fu- 2 && fopkj fd, tkus ds fy, ewy iz‘u&& ^mldk iwoZpfjr* vkSj ^dkjkokl esa mldk vkpj.k* dh O;kfIr vkSj vFkZ gSA

       ‘‘kCn ^iwoZjfpr*] vijk/k fd, tkus ls iwoZ dh vof/k rd fucZaf/kr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA vijk/k ds Lo:i vkSj ifjfLFkfr;ksa ds vfrfjDr] vijk/k dh rkjh[k vkSj dkjkxkj esa mldh izfof"V dh tkjh[k ds chp vkpj.k Hkh lqlaxr gSA lkFk&gh] ifjoh{kk ij NksM+s tkus dh mldh izkFkZuk dk ijh{k.k djus ds fy, ^dkjxkj esa mlds vkpj.k* ij Hkh fopkj fd;k tkuk gksxkA ifjoh{kk vf/kfu;e] 1954 esa fo|eku ‘‘kCn ^iwoZjfpr*] ftruh dYiuk dh tk lds] mruk O;kid gSA 1994 ts ,y ts 795 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ voyafcrA

       ^iwoZjfpr* vkSj ^dkjxkj esa vkpj.k* ifjHkkf"kr djus ds fy, ‘‘kCn ^mldk* nks ckj iz;qDr gqvk gSA vfHkO;fDr ^mldk iwoZpfjr* viuh O;kfIr esa ^dkjxkj esa mldk vkpj.k* Hkh lfEefyr djus esa Lo;eso l{ke gS D;ksafd ^iwoZpfjr* dk vFkZ gksxk ^^canh }kjk NksM+s tkus dh izkFkZuk ij jkT; ljdkj }kjk fopkj fd, tkus ds fy, iwoZpfjr**A fo/kku&eaMy dh ^dkjxkj esa vkpj.k* dks lE;d~ egRo nsus dh Li"Vr% bPNk FkhA 1994 ts ,y ts 795 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ voyafcrA 1996¼1½ e-iz- ohDyh uksV~l 232] 1998 lhvkj ,y ts 1388 rFkk , vkb vkj 2000 ,l lh 2762 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 5

       ¼4½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 2 && canh dks dkjkxkj ls NksM+s tkus ds ckcr ljdkj }kjk jk; cukbZ tkuk && vfHkfuf‘pr fd, tkus ;ksX; rF;ksa ij gh vk/kkfjr gksuk pkfg,A

       jkT; ljdkj }kjk ;g jk; cuk;k tkuk fd fl)nks"k O;fDr vijk/k ls ijgst j[ksxk ;k ugha vFkok dkjkxkj ls NksM+s tkus ds i‘pkr~ ‘kkafriw.kZ thou O;fDr djsxk ;k ugha] dkjkxkj ds iwoZpfjr vkSj vkpj.k ls lacaf/kr vfHkfuf‘pr fd, tkus ;ksX; rF;ksa ds euu ij vk/kkfjr gksuk pkfg,] ek= ftyk eftLVªsV] iqfyl v/kh{kd] ifjoh{kk vf/kdkjh dh jk; ij ughaA 1996 lhvkj ,y ts 687 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 6

       ¼5½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && vuq- 14 && jkT; dh dkjZokbZ euekusiu ls xzLr && dk;e ugha j[kh tk ldrh] pkgs og fof/k ds izkf/kdkj ds v/khu gks ;k dk;Zikyd ‘kfDr ds iz;ksx esa gksA

       jkT; dh dksbZ dkjZokbZ dk;e ugha j[kh tk ldrh ;fn og euekusiu ls xzLr gSA ;qfDr;qDrrk vkSj ;qfDrlaxrrk dk fl)kar] tks fof/kd :i ls gh ugha] n‘kZu ds :i esa Hkh lekurk ;k xSj&euekusiu dk lkjHkwr rRo gS] vuq- 14 }kjk ifjyf{kr gS rFkk og jkT; dh izR;sd dkjZokbZ dh fof‘k"Vrk gksuk pkfg,] pkgs og fof/k ds izkf/kdkj ds v/khu gks ;k dk;Zikyd ‘kfDr ds iz;ksx esa gksA dk;Zikyd ljdkj dh izR;sd dkjZokbZ ;qfDr;qDrrk ls vuqizkf.kr gksuk pkfg,A ;g fof/k lEer ‘kklu dk lkj gS rFkk mldh Li"V U;wure vis{kk gSA 1996 lhvkj ,y ts 687 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 6

       ¼6½ cafn;ksa dk ifjoh{kk ij NksM+k tkuk vf/kfu;e] 1954 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 2 && mica/k dk mÌs‘; && vijkf/k;ksa dk lq/kkj gSA

       ^^vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 2 dk vf/kfu;eu dkjkxkj esa ‘kkafriw.kZ thou O;rhr djus vkSj vkfrF; dk volj nsus rFkk lekt dh eq[; /kkjk esa ykSVus ds fy, O;fDr;ksa dks izksRlkfgr djus dh n`f"V ls fd;k x;k FkkA vf/kfu;fefr ds mÌs‘; vkSj dkj.kksa ls ;g Li"V gSA**

       okLro esa] ifjoh{kk vf/kfu;e dk mÌs‘; vijk/kh dk lq/kkj djuk gSA /kkjk 2 dk vU; dksbZ vFkZ ugha fd;k tk ldrkA blls ifrr O;fDr dks Lo;a dks lq/kkjus vkSj vius iquokZl dk volj nsus dk gSA 1994 ,l lh lh ¼lhvkj½ 553 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 6

       ¼7½ vkns‘k && egRoiw.kZ rF;ksa dh vuos{kk vFkok mis{kk ds nks"k ls xzLr && fof/k dh n`f"V esa nks"kiw.kZ gSA , vkb vkj 1981 ,l lh 70 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 6