1 CGHC010298022026 2026:CGHC:34433-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPCR No. 446 of 2026 1 - Jagdish S/o Khedu Satnami Aged About 56 Years, R/o Parsuli, P.S. Arjuni, District Dhamtari (C.G.) ... Petitioner versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through- The Secretary of Home (Jail) Department of Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Under Secretary Jail Department Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur District Raipur (C.G.) 3 - Director General Prisoners and Correctional Service Chhattisgarh Head Quarter Sector- 19, Atal Nagar Naya Raipur District Raipur (C.G.) 4 - Jail Superintendents Central Jail Raipur District Raipur (C.G.) ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from Case Information System) For Petitioner : Mr. Pritam Kumar Tiwari, Advocate. For State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Deputy Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 06-08-2026 Digitally signed by MOHAMMED AADIL KHAN Date: 2026.08.10 17:15:27 +0530 2 1. Heard Mr. Pritam Kumar Tiwari, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Mr. Saumya Rai, learned Deputy Govt. Advocate appearing for the respondents/State. 2. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking the following relief(s): “10.1 The Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for entire records pertaining to the case of the petitioner for it's kind perusal; 10.2 The Hon'ble Court may kindly allow this petition and set aside the order dated 22.03.2026 passed by respondent no. 1 upper secretary of Home Jail Department. issue a suitable writ, order or direction commanding the respondent authorities to consider the case of the petitioner for pre- mature release as early as possible. 10.3 Any other relief, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper looking to the facts and circumstance of the case, may also kindly be granted in favour of the petitioner.” 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the impugned order dated 22.03.2026, whereby the application of the Petitioner for grant of remission/premature release has been rejected, is arbitrary, illegal, and unsustainable in the eyes of law. The said rejection has been made solely on the basis of a negative recommendation of the State Sentence Review Board, without any 3 independent application of mind by the competent authority, which is contrary to the settled legal position governing the exercise of powers under Rule 358(7)(viii) of the Chhattisgarh Prison Rules, 1968. It is further submitted that the Petitioner has already undergone the requisite period of incarceration as prescribed under the applicable rules and policies governing premature release of life convicts. The Petitioner’s case was duly processed in accordance with law, and the application of the petitioner was recommended by the Jail Superintendent, Central Jail, Raipur, and was forwarded in the prescribed Proforma. Moreover, the Learned Trial Court had also issued a memo, thereby supporting the case of the Petitioner for consideration of remission. These material aspects clearly demonstrate that the Petitioner fulfills the eligibility criteria for premature release. 4. Learned counsel submits that the recommendation of the State Sentence Review Board is merely advisory in nature and cannot be treated as binding upon the competent authority. It is incumbent upon the authority to consider the case of the Petitioner independently by taking into account relevant factors such as the conduct of the prisoner during incarceration, his reformation, the likelihood of his reintegration into society, and other mitigating circumstances. However, in the present case, the impugned order reflects a complete non-application of mind, as it does not disclose any independent reasoning or consideration of 4 relevant materials. It is also submitted that the impugned order is a non-speaking order, as it fails to assign any cogent reasons for rejecting the Petitioner’s application/case despite favorable recommendations from the Jail authorities and the absence of objection from the trial Court. Such an order is in clear violation of the principles of natural justice and is liable to be set aside on this ground alone. 5. Learned counsel further submits that the object of incarceration is not merely punitive but reformative in nature. The Petitioner has undergone a substantial period of imprisonment and has maintained good conduct during his incarceration. The denial of remission in such circumstances defeats the very purpose of reformation and rehabilitation, which are essential facets of the criminal justice system. It is also contended that the authorities have failed to consider relevant materials placed on record, including the recommendation of the Jail Superintendent, the opinion expressed by the trial Court in favour of the petitioner, and the Petitioner’s eligibility under the applicable rules. Instead, undue weight has been given to the negative recommendation of the State Sentence Review Board, rendering the decision arbitrary and legally unsustainable. Lastly, it is submitted that the delay in deciding the Petitioner’s application, coupled with the arbitrary rejection thereof, has caused serious prejudice to the Petitioner. The discretionary power vested in the authorities 5 under the relevant rules is required to be exercised in a fair, reasonable, and judicious manner, which has not been done in the present case. 6. Per contra, learned State counsel submits that the petitioner has been convicted for offence under Section 302/34 and 323/34 of the Indian Panel Code along with with other co-accused persons and the gravity of the offence warrants strict application of Rule 358(6)(ix). It is contended that the Rule must be purposively interpreted and that the petitioner has not completed 20 years of actual imprisonment. 7. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 8. The controversy in the present case revolves around the interpretation of Rule 358(6)(ix) of the Chhattisgarh Jail Rules, 1968, which provides that a prisoner “who is guilty of murder in two or more cases” shall be considered for premature release only after completion of 20 years of actual imprisonment. 9. The expression used in the Rule is “two or more cases” and not “two or more murders”. The distinction is clear and significant. In criminal law, a “case” refers to a distinct prosecution arising from a separate incident culminating in a separate trial. The Rule, therefore, applies only where a person is convicted in two or more distinct cases of murder. 6 10. In the present case, it is undisputed that the petitioner was tried and convicted in a single sessions trial arising out of one incident. Merely because there are multiple victims does not convert a single case into multiple cases. The interpretation adopted by the respondent authorities equating “multiple murders” with “multiple cases” is contrary to the plain language of the Rule and legally unsustainable. 11. It is well settled that executive authorities must act strictly within the framework of statutory provisions and cannot expand their scope by interpretative processes. The impugned order, being based on a manifestly erroneous interpretation of Rule 358(6)(ix), is liable to be set aside. 12. Apart from the above, the record reveals that the petitioner has undergone more than 18 years of imprisonment including remission, his conduct in jail is satisfactory; and no adverse opinion has been expressed by the competent authorities. 13. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Haryana v. Jagdish, reported in (2010) 4 SCC 216 and Laxman Naskar v. State of West Bengal, (2000) 7 SCC 626 has held that consideration for premature release must be fair, reasonable and based on relevant factors. 14. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 22.03.2026 (Annexure P-3) is quashed and set aside. It is declared that Rule 358(6)(ix) 7 of the Chhattisgarh Jail Rules, 1968 is not applicable to the case of the petitioner. 15. In view of the petitioner’s long incarceration, satisfactory conduct, and absence of any statutory embargo, the petitioner is held entitled to the benefit of premature release. The respondent authorities are directed to release the petitioner forthwith, if not required in any other case, subject to usual terms and conditions. 16. The writ petition stands allowed. No order as to costs. Sd/- Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice Aadil