1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.1478 OF 2009 Chhatrapti Vithal Patil .. Petitioner V/s. The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Respondents Mr. N.N.Gavankar with Mr.Arfan Sait for the petitioner. Mr.K.V.Saste, A.P.P.for the State. CORAM : BILAL NAZKI and A.R.JOSHI, JJ. DATED : 7th AUGUST, 2009. P.C. The petitioner has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He has already undergone 21 years of imprisonment. He wanted premature release, which was not granted, and he was not informed that he could be released only after serving the sentence of 24 years. 2 2. There was a controversy going on in this Court as to what Guidelines were applicable for consideration of premature release – whether the Guidelines on the date of conviction or the Guidelines when the case was considered. This Court has now held that the Guidelines applicable on the date of conviction were applicable. 3. We set aside the impugned order, and remand the matter back to the Government, and direct that the case of the petitioner for early release be considered on the basis of Guidelines which were in force on the date of conviction of the petitioner. 4. The petition is disposed of. (BILAL NAZKI,J.) (A.R. JOSHI, J.) 3