The Supreme Court has granted the Union government four weeks to take a decision on the premature release of a former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel convicted of killing three colleagues in 2006. The move comes after the Jammu and Kashmir administration submitted a report on the issue, following the Court’s earlier directive to frame a policy for the early release of convicts.
The case involves a CRPF jawan serving a life sentence under Section 302 of the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and Section 30 of the Arms Act. In April 2006, he shot dead three colleagues, including a senior officer, allegedly after being publicly reprimanded while on leave for his sister’s wedding. He was convicted in 2012, and his appeal was dismissed by the High Court in 2022.
With no existing policy in J&K for premature release based on incarceration period, the convict approached the Supreme Court in 2023, arguing that he had already spent over 17 years in custody without remission.
The Court then advised him to seek relief from the J&K High Court, either for policy formulation or individual consideration of his release.
Upon his latest petition, the Supreme Court instructed the J&K administration to take up the matter and submit a compliance report. During the recent hearing, Justice Surya Kant noted that the administration had submitted a “favorable report,” prompting Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj to request time for further examination.
A final decision on the matter is expected after the Union government’s response within the stipulated four weeks. [KNT]
