- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45805 WP No. 17178 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 17178 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: SRI. VENKATESH S/O RAJANNA AGED 36 YEARS R/AT NO 186, AMBIKA PRIMARY SCHOOL ROAD JAI MARUTHINAGAR, NANDINI LAYOUT, BENGALURU-560096 PRESENTLY SERVING SENTENCE IN BENGALURU CENTRAL PRISON CTP NO. 5400) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRADEEP PATIL, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560001 2. THE LIFE CONVICTS PREMATURE RE LEASE COMMITTEE HOME DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560001 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN 3. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE PRISONS AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES NO. 9 SHESHADRI ROAD, GANDHI NAGAR BENGALURU-560009 Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45805 WP No. 17178 of 2025 4. THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT CENTRAL PRISON, PARAPPANA AGRAHARA, BENGALURU -560 100 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. K.P. YASHODHA, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS TO THE RESPONDENTS TO BE PLEASED TO ACT IN STRICT COMPLIANCE OF THE NOTIFICATION BEARING NO. HD 119 PRA 2018, BENGALURU, DATED 21.04.2020 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND BE FURTHER PLEASED TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE CASE OF THE PETITIONER FOR PREMATURE RELEASE IN TERMS OF THE ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The Petitioner, a cousin of detenu-Venkatesha (CTP No.5400) is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus to the Respondents to be pleased to act in strict compliance of the Notification bearing No. HD 119 PRA 2018, Bengaluru, dated 21.04.2020 produced as Annexure-A and be further pleased to direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for premature release in terms of the Annexure-A. b. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus to the respondents to release the petitioner - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45805 WP No. 17178 of 2025 on parole till the decision of the Government in the interest of justice and equity. c. Pass such other order’s, direction’s considering the facts and circumstances of the case, together with costs, in the interest of justice. 2. The detenu had been convicted for offences under Section 341, 302 r/w 34 of IPC and sentenced on 04.02.2012, highest of the sentence being imprisonment for life. The detenu as on 14.05.2025 had been incarcerated for a period of 11 Years, 5 months, 9 days. He has been granted general parole on 8 occasions, emergency parole on 3 occasions and court parole on 2 occasions. There is no allegation or complaint against the detenu during all those occasions. The detenu having sought for premature release, the Advisory Board has approved the premature release of the detenu, and the matter is now pending before the Life Convicts Release Committee (LCRC). In that view of the matter, detenu having earlier been released on parole and Advisory Board having approved the premature - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45805 WP No. 17178 of 2025 release of the petitioner, I am of the considered opinion that the detenu can be released on parole until the orders are passed by the LCRC and the Government. In that view of the matter, I pass the following: ORDER i) The Writ petition is allowed. ii) Respondent No.4 is directed to release the convict - -Venkatesha (CTP No.5400) on general parole till the orders are passed by Respondents No.2 and 1 by imposing usual conditions. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE PRS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 9