DEVENDER KUMAR Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The case has been taken up for hearing through video-conferencing. Petitioner has prayed for issuance of a writ, order or direction, especially in the nature of mandamus, directing the respondents to grant emergency parole for a period of two months for agriculture purposes in order to harvest standing wheat crop and also for plantation of paddy in accordance with the entitlement of the petitioner under Section 3(1) (c) of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act 1988.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that on 23.03.2020, the Hon'ble Apex Court has directed all the States/U.Ts to consider grant of parole to the prisoners in lesser offences in order to avoid over-crowding in the prisons in the wake of Covid-19.

(3.) In compliance of the aforesaid directions, the Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Judge of the High Court, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana and Director General of Prisons, Haryana has laid down criteria for consideration of cases of parole of the convicts.