State of Punjab Vs. Kesar Singh [1996] INSC 838 (22 July 1996)
Anand, A.S. (J) Anand, A.S. (J) Majmudar S.B. (J)
CITATION: 1996 SCALE (5)444
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
O R D E R
Special leave granted.
The respondent was convicted for an offence under Section 3022/34 IPC (Indian Penal code, 1860) and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by the judgment and order dated May 28, 1987.
After he had undergone a little more than 8 years of sentence he filed a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh seeking premature release. The High Court by the impugned order dated January 18, 1986 considered the case on its merits and allowed the petition directing the release of the respondent forthwith. The State is aggrieved of the order dated January 18, 1986, hence this appeal.
We have heard learned counsel for the parties. In our opinion the direction given by the High Court was not at all appropriate or permissible in law. The mandate of Section 433 Cr.P.C. enables the Government in an appropriate case to commute the sentence of a convict and to prematurely order his release before expiry of the sentence as imposed by the courts. Clause (b) of Section 433, Cr.P.C. provides that the sentence of imprisonment for life may be commuted for imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or fine.
Undisputedly, the respondent had not completed 14 years sentence when he filed the petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking premature release. The direction of the High Court therefore to prematurely release the respondent and set him at liberty forthwith could not have been made. That apart, even if the High Court could give such a direction, it could only direct cunsideration of the case of premature release by the Government and could not have ordered the premature release of the respondent itself. The right to exercise the power under Section 433 Cr.P.C. vests in the Government and has to be exercised by the Government in accordance with the rules and established principles. The impugned order of the High Court cannot, therefore be sustained and is hereby set aside.
This order shall however, not come in the way of the respondent for approaching the Government for term of the order issued by the Governor of Punjab on March 6, 1985. As and when such an application is made the State Government shall decide that application on merits uninfluenced by this order or by the observations made by the impugned order.
