LILA SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONER Lila Singh is undergoing imprisonment for life in Central Jail Patiala. He was less than 20 years of age at the time of the commission of the crime and there is no dispute that he has already undergone 11 years and one month of actual sentence and was granted 6 years and 4 months as remission. It is also not disputed that he fulfilled the conditions envisaged in paragraph 516(8) of the Punjab Jail Manual for his case for pre-mature release to be considered by the State Government.

(2.) LILA Singh's case for pre-mature release was considered in 1980 and was rejected in 1981. It was again referred to the Government and was again rejected in March, 1983. In the year 1986, again the State Government considered the case of the petitioner and rejected the same.

(3.) IN the return filed by the respondents, it is stated that the premature release case of the petitioner was rejected by the Government after considering the relevant records and report of the district authorities. It is further stated in the reply that the petitioner had committed a jail offence in November 1983 and his pre-mature release is likely to prove hazardous to peace and tranquility in the locality and it would not be in public interest to release such a person pre maturely.