1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.3033 OF 2009 Rafique Abdul Reheman Shaikh .... Petitioner Vs. The State of Maharashtra .... Respondent Shri Abhay Kumar Apte (Appointed) for the Petitioner. Ms A.S. Pai, APP, for the State. CORAM: J.N. PATEL & A.A. SAYED, JJ. DATED: DECEMBER 08, 2009 P.C: The learned APP appearing for the respondent-State has filed the affidavit of Shri Jagan Nath, Special Inspector General of Police (Jail), Central Region, Aurangabad. The same is taken on record. The APP assures the Court that the sanctioning authority would reconsider the petitioner/prisoner s application for grant of furlough after obtaining a detail report from the Superintendent of Police, Ratnagiri, particularly in respect of the nature of the 2 offences registered against the petitioner and who are the anti-social elements with whom the petitioner has contacts and what steps the Superintendent of Police has taken in this regard. The whole purpose is to have an objective assessment of the case of the petitioner as and when he applies for furlough. On the contrary, this Court would clarify that as and when a prisoner is due for furlough, it is the responsibility of the jail authorities to inform such prisoner of his/her right and process his/her case for release on furlough rather than waiting for an application for furlough leave to be filed by such prisoner. We, therefore, dispose of this petition with a direction to the respondent-State to re- consider the case of the petitioner, as stated above, within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of this order. (J.N. PATEL, J.) (A.A. SAYED, J.)