Parole Extension Justified by 'Act of God' Impacting Family's Livelihood: Delhi High Court - 2025-09-16

Delhi High Court Extends Convict's Parole, Cites 'Act of God' After Floods Ruin Crops

New Delhi: In a humanitarian consideration, the Delhi High Court has granted a four-week extension of parole to a convict, Praveen Rana, after his agricultural land, the sole source of income for his family, was destroyed by heavy rainfall and floods. Justice Arun Monga emphasized that the unforeseen "act of God" necessitated the petitioner's presence to restore the farmland and secure his family's livelihood.

Case Background

The petitioner, Praveen Rana, approached the High Court with an urgent application [W.P.(CRL) 2495/2025] seeking a four-week extension of his parole, which was granted by a co-ordinate bench on August 18, 2025, and was set to expire on the day of the hearing, September 15, 2025.

Rana was initially released to carry out agricultural activities on his 1.5-acre plot of land, which supports his widowed mother and two minor school-going children, aged 14 and 15. The family is entirely dependent on this land for their sustenance and the children's education.

Arguments Presented

Petitioner's Submissions: The counsel for Praveen Rana argued that the extension was imperative due to a series of unfortunate events.

- Crop Destruction: Rana had sown seasonal crops in June 2025, but a subsequent deluge completely inundated the field, ruining the entire harvest.

- Urgent Restoration: With the floodwaters receding, his presence was crucial to undertake urgent restoration measures, manage the recovery process, and protect what remains of the crops.

- Financial Arrangements: The petitioner also needed to arrange funds for essential agricultural inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, which are vital for the land's productivity.

State's Opposition: The Learned Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) for the State opposed the application, primarily on procedural grounds. The counsel argued that the petitioner’s conduct of approaching the court "at the nick of time" did not inspire confidence.

Court's Rationale and Decision

After hearing both sides, Justice Arun Monga sided with the petitioner, finding merit in the grounds presented for the extension. The court's decision was rooted in the unforeseen and uncontrollable nature of the circumstances.

In its order, the Court observed:

"The Petitioner’s continued presence in not only unforeseen, being an act of God (heavy rains) but otherwise also appears to be necessary for sustaining his family’s only source of livelihood on which his widowed mother and two minor children are entirely dependent."

The judgment highlighted the critical need for Rana's personal supervision to carry out the agricultural recovery, which included making financial arrangements and applying essential inputs. The court noted that without his active involvement, the process would be ineffective, thereby "jeopardising the survival and education of his dependent family members."

Final Order and Implications

The High Court granted a four-week extension of parole to Praveen Rana on the same terms and conditions as the initial order. However, the court clarified that this extension would be officially recorded as a "second parole" and factored accordingly as per the jail manual.

The court directed that its order be immediately conveyed to the concerned Jail Superintendent, both through a formal copy and telephonically by the State's counsel, to ensure timely compliance.