SATNAM SINGH Vs. SUPERINTENDENT, DISTRICT JAIL, SIRSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AN application moved by Satnam Singh a life convict, was treated as a criminal writ petition. The petitioner claims that he is in possession of agricultural land and after his conviction, he has not been given parole and furlough for doing the cultivation work. He had produced Khasra Girdawaries showing him in self -cultivation of the land. Still his prayer for parole had been declined.

(2.) IN the return filed, it has been stated that he was required to furnish proof regarding the ownership of the land which he wishes to cultivate and in the alternative that land has to be his father's un -divided land.

(3.) THE Act does not provide that a convict, to avail the concession of agricultural parole, must be the owner of the land. If he claims to be in possession of some land, he will be entitled to get the concession. The petitioner had produced before the jail authorities copies of Khasra Girdawaries showing his possession on the land owned by his mother. This fact has not been controverted by the State. The grant of concession of parole is a corrective measure to ensure that a convict while undergoing imprisonment comes out of jail for the purpose of socialization and also to provide means for his family members to live. This concession cannot be refused on flimsy grounds.