Soubina vs The Superintendent

Sophy Thomas, J

The petitioner is the wife of convict No.28/22(C.No.28/22) who is the appellant in Crl.Appeal No.169/2021 and A3 in SC No.530/2009 of Fast Track Special Court, Kozhikode, for releasing the convict on emergency leave to conduct the marriage of his daughter, which is scheduled to be solemnized on 27/1/2024. Ext.P2 is the wedding invitation. As per Ext.P4 order dated 19/1/2024, the Superintendent of Central Prison and Correctional Home, Thavannoor, Malappuram granted him emergency leave for 3 days from 25/1/2024 to 27/1/2024 with travel time for one more day, ie. 28/1/2024. According to the petitioner, the convict, who is the father of the bride is the only person to take care of the marriage ceremony, and so, it is absolutely necessary to release him on emergency leave for a period of 60 days.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Public Prosecutor.

As per Rule 400 of the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Act and Rules, 2014, the jail superintendent is competent to grant emergency leave upto 10 days, and the Director General of Prisons can grant emergency leave upto 15 days, and the Home Secretary can grant emergency leave upto 30 days. As per Rule 400(12), emergency leave can be granted for the marriage of daughter of the convict. Rule 400(11) & (12) read as follows:-

(11) ജയി  സൂപ്രണ്ടിന് ഒരു സമയം 10 ദിവസം വ屲ぜ牆 അടിയന്തി屲 അവധി അനുവദിക്കാ  അധികാ屲മുണ്ടായി屲ിക്കുന്നതും അതു 屲牍屲牆 15 ദിവസം വ屲ぜ牆യുള്ള കാലയളവി屲 片ക്ക് ഡയറക്ട  ജനറലും തുട ന്ന് ഒരു പ്രാവശ്യം 15 ദിവസം വ屲ぜ牆യുള്ള കാലയളവി屲 片ക്ക് ആഭ്യന്ത屲വകു屲് 屲㡜牆ക്രട്ടറിക്കും അവധി അനുവദിക്കാവുന്നതുമാണ്.

(12) അച്ഛ , അമ്മ, മക , മക , ഭാ屲്യ ഭ ത്താവ്, സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 , സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി, അ ദ്ധ സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 , അ ദ്ധസ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി, പൗത്ര , പൗത്രി, പിതാ/മാതാ മ屲 , പിതാ/മാതാ മ屲ി, ഭാ屲്യപിതാവ്/മാതാവ്, മാത്യ സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 / സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി, പിതൃ സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 /സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി എന്നിവരു屲牆 മ屲ണ屲 മ屲 അത്യാസന്ന 屲 屲ഗാവസ്ഥ屲一യ屲; മക , മക , സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 , സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി, പൗത്ര , പൗത്രി, ഭാ屲്യ-ഭ ത്തൃ സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲 , ഭാ屲്യ-ഭ ത്ത്യ സ屲㤀A屲ദ屲ി, അനന്തി屲വ , അനന്തി屲വ  എന്നിവരു屲牆 വിവാ屲ം; താമസിക്കുന്ന വീട് ഭാഗികമാ屲一യ屲പൂ ണ്ണമാ屲一യ屲 തകരുക屲一യ屲, മറ്റ് അസാധാ屲ണമായ സാ屲ച屲്യങ്ങളുള്ള屲牍屲屲㐀V屲 അതുസംബന്ധിച്ച് 屲㡜牍ഷ  屲ൗസ് ഓഫീസറു屲牆 വിശദമായ ശുപാ ശ屲一യ屲ടുകൂടി അടിയന്തി屲 അവധി അനുവദിക്കാവുന്നതാണ്.

In the decision in Sandhya v. State of Kerala [2023 KLT online 2073], this Court observed that in exceptional circumstances, the power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India can be resorted to for the purpose of granting emergency parole/leave.

Considering the purpose for which, the petitioner is seeking emergency leave for her husband, this Court of the view that, Ext.P3 order granting him emergency leave only for three days is quite inadequate, when, the Superintendent was competent to grant emergency leave upto 10 days.

In this factual scenario, this Court is inclined to direct respondents 1 and 2 to release the convict on emergency leave for a period of 15 days from 24/1/2024 10.00am till 5.00pm on 8/2/2024. Respondents 1 and 2 shall impose normal conditions that are usually imposed, while releasing a convict on emergency leave. On 8/2/2024 at 5.00pm, the convict shall report back to the Central Prison and Correctional Home, Thavannoor, Malappuram.

As envisaged under Section 389(4) of Cr.P.C, the time during which, the convict is so released shall be excluded in computing the term for which he is sentenced, in case, the sentence is confirmed fully or partially in the appeal.