HC jails reform panel to supervise remission, premature release in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

Acting in sync with the Supreme Court’s continuing supervision over jail reforms, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that its already constituted jails reform committee would monitor and supervise the implementation of remission and premature release policies in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, heading the Bench, observed that the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of issues relating to remission and premature release of prisoners and, by its order, had directed all High Courts to monitor and supervise the implementation of the process as part of jail reforms.

“A committee has already been constituted for looking into the jail reforms,” Chief Justice Nagu observed, adding that it would be “bestowed with the task of monitoring and supervising the implementation of remission and premature release policy of the State of Punjab, Haryana and UT.”

The court also took note of submissions that replies on behalf of the States of Punjab and Haryana were ready. Granting time, the Bench directed that affidavits be filed within a fortnight.

The directions were passed in suo motu of “Court on its own motion” against the State of Punjab and other respondents, registered pursuant to the Supreme Court’s orders in suo motu writ petition (criminal) “Re: Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail” and SLP (criminal) “Sonadhar versus State of Chhattisgarh”

The suo motu proceedings are part of a broader judicial push, led by the apex court, to ensure uniform, timely and fair consideration of remission, and premature release and to reduce overcrowding and systemic delays in prisons across the country.

The apex court had earlier asserted: "We request the Hon'ble Chief Justices of the respective High Courts to register a suo motu writ petition and thereafter, a Division Bench shall be constituted to monitor and supervise the implementation of the remission and premature release policies of the respective States," it said. The case will now come up for hearing on February 2.