Delhi HC extends murder convict’s parole to revive flood-ravaged fields

For Praveen Rana, serving a murder sentence, the Delhi High Court has granted an unusual relief — four additional weeks of freedom to save his farmland damaged in the recent floods.

Justice Arun Monga extended Rana’s parole for another month, observing that his presence was indispensable to protect his family’s only source of livelihood.

“The petitioner’s continued presence is not only necessitated by an unforeseen act of God (heavy rains) but also appears essential for sustaining his family’s only source of livelihood, on which his widowed mother and two minor children are entirely dependent. With the water now receding, urgent measures are required to restore and protect the farmland, including financial arrangements and application of fertilisers, pesticides and other essential inputs,” the court said.

The judge underscored that without Rana’s active supervision, agricultural recovery could not be effectively undertaken, jeopardising the survival and education of his dependent family members. At the same time, the court clarified that the extension would be treated as a second parole and factored into the jail manual.

Rana had first secured furlough in June, citing that he had sown seasonal crops on his land. But the heavy monsoon rain inundated his fields, destroying the entire crop. With the floodwaters now receding, he sought an extension of parole to carry out urgent restoration measures.

His plea stressed that the floods had disrupted the natural farming cycle and that his presence was required to reduce damage and oversee recovery.

Granting relief, Justice Monga concluded: “After hearing the counsels for both sides and perusing the application, I am of the view that the applicant is entitled to extension of parole in order to enable him to tend to his crops which have been affected by the recent deluge.”