VISHWANATH K. BHAIDKAR Vs. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. By consent, to be heard forthwith. Shant Ram Vishwanath Bhaidkar, Rama Vishwanath Bhaidkar and Shivram Harijan (for short prisoners) are incorporated in jail pursuant to their conviction and sentence for life imprisonment. This petition is instituted on their behalf as the prisoners arc presently in jail out of the State of Goa. The prisoners have already completed by undergoing over 15 years of actual substantive imprisonment in jail.

(2.) THIS petition was brought for hearing on rule some time in April 1994. By an order on 27th April 1994, pending hearing and final disposal of the petition, this Court directed the jail authorities to consider the applications of the prisoners for their release on parole. We are told by the learned Government Advocate that the applications for parole have been rejected.

(3.) THE case has a chequered history and we will succinctly point out as to what made this Court to call upon the Advisory Review Committee to consider the premature release of all the three prisoners. It was set out in that petition that all the three prisoners have, on the date of filing of that petition, undergone actual and substantive sentences for more than 15 years.