1 2025:CGHC:34376-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPCR No. 402 of 2025 Bharosa Ram Alias Bodru S/o Suraj Ram Aged About 65 Years R/o Village- Kodebod, Police Station- Kurud, District- Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, Presently In Central Jail Raipur, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary Department Of Jail Correctional Service Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur, (Chhattisgarh) 2 - Additional Secretary Government Of Chhattisgarh Department Of Jail Naya Raipur Atal Nagar, District Raipur, (Chhattisgarh) 3 - Secretary Department Of Law And Legislative Affairs Government Of Chhattisgarh Naya Raipur, Atal Nagar, District- Raipur, (Chhattisgarh) 4 - Director General Of Jail And Correctional Service Chhattisgarh Sector 19 Naya Raipur Atal Nagar, District- Raipur, (Chhattisgarh) 5 - Superintendent Of Jail Central Jail, Raipur, District Raipur (Chhattisgarh) ... Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from CIS) SOURABH BHILWAR Digitally signed by SOURABH BHILWAR Date: 2025.07.22 09:57:39 +0530 2 For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Saurabh Dangi, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Sangharsh Pandey, Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru , Judge Judgment on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 21.07.2025 1. Heard Mr. Saurabh Dangi, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. Sangharsh Pandey, learned Govt. Advocate appearing for the respondents/State. 2. The petitioner has filed this petition praying for following relief:- “10.1 The Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to quash the order dated 19.05.25 and 08.05.25 (Annexure P/1) passed by the respondent authorities and Office of Superintendent Jail, Naya Raipur and direct the Respondent State to prematurely release the petitioner, in accordance with law, in the interest of justice. 10.2 This Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other relief as it may deem fit in the interest of justice.” 3. Brief facts of the case are that the petitioner is a convicted prisoner detained in Central Jail Raipur (C.G.). The petitioner is in jail since 17.10.1998 and he has served more than 19 years in jail. Vide judgment dated 26.11.1999, passed by the Learned Additional Sessions Judge, Dhamtari, District Dhamtari in Session Trial No. 114/1999 the petitioner was convicted under sections 147, 148, 302, 302/149 & 325 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and 3 was sentenced to undergo life imprisonment. On 18.07.2024, the proposal was sent by Jail Superintendent, Central Jail Raipur for opinion of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Dhamtari for grant of remission to the petitioner. Thereafter, the Additional Sessions Judge, Dhamtari vide memo dated 22.07.2024 opined that the petitioner is eligible for remission. However, the same has been rejected by order dated 08.05.2025 & 19.05.2025 by respondent authorities on the ground that there is ban/bar on premature release of the prisoners convicted under section 302/149 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 in light of the provision given in Rule 358 of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968. Hence this petition. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the impugned letter/ order dated 08.05.2025 & 19.05.2025 passed/ issued by the respondent respondent authorities are arbitrary, illegal and against the law and the same have been passed/issued by the respondents just on the basis of the bar/ban given in Rule 358(3) (g) (two) of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968 without considering his good conduct during his detention period. The petitioner has undergone actual jail sentence for the period of more than 19 years with earned remission, and therefore, the petitioner is entitled to pre- mature release under section 473 of the BNSS 2023 (432 of the Cr.P.C.). Further, the provision given in Rule 358 of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968 has been amended vide notification dated 23.04.2025 and at present there is no bar/ban on pre-mature release of the prisoners convicted under section 302/149 of the Indian Penal 4 Code 1860, and therefore, the petitioner is eligible to be considered for pre-mature release under section 473 of BNSS 2023 (432 of the Cr.P.C.). Also, several prisoners convicted under section 302/149 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 have been released under remission of the rest part of sentence but in so far as the case of the petitioner is concerned, the same has been rejected on the ground of the bar/ban given in Rule 358(3)(g) (two) of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968 and it is nothing but a clear discrimination again the petitioner. The case of the petitioner is similar to the case of Soyam Rama Vs State of Chhattisgarh (W.P.(Cr.) No. 448/2024 decided on 25.11.2024) and the case of Basant Verma Vs State of Chhattisgarh (W.P.(Cr.) No. 100/2025 decided on 21.03.2025). 5. Learned counsel for the respondents/ State could not dispute the said fact that the impugned letter/ order dated 08.05.2025 & 19.05.2025 have been passed/issued by the respondents authorities just on the basis of the bar/ban given in Rule 358(3)(g) (two) of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968 and not on merits and further, the provision given in Rule 358 of C.G. Prisons Rule 1968 has been amended vide notification dated 23.04.2025 and at present, there is no bar/ban on pre-mature release of the prisoners convicted under section 302/149 of the IPC, and therefore, the petitioner is eligible to be considered for pre-mature release under section 473 of BNSS 2023 (432 of the Cr.P.C.). 5 6. In view of the above facts and circumstances, the present petition stands disposed of, with liberty to the petitioner to make an application for remission in view of the amended provision given in Rule 358 of C.G. Prisons Rule, 1968 and the same shall be considered by the concerned authority, as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with law. 7. The Director General (Prison), State of Chhattisgarh is directed to ensure that the prisoner with identical situation be provided all the proper assistance for making a requisite application for remission in pursuance of the amended provision given in Rule 358 of C.G. Prisons Rule, 1968. 8. Registrar (Judicial) is directed to transmit the copy of this order to the Director General (Prison), State of Chhattisgarh forthwith for necessary information and follow up action. Sd/- Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice $ Bhilwar/Jyoti