1 16 wp.2420.10 ndm IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 2420 OF 2010 Majid Umar Hasid Shaikh. ... Petitioner Vs. The State of Maharashtra and ors. ... Respondents ----- Mrs. A.M.Z. Ansari with Ms. Nasreen Ayubee for the Petitioner. Dr. F.R.Shaikh, APP for the State. ----- CORAM : A.M. KHANWILKAR and P.D. KODE, JJ. DATE : 29 th September, 2010. P.C. 1 Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned APP. 2 The only reason for which, request for releasing the Petitioner on furlough leave has been rejected is on account of adverse report of the local police dated 23 rd January, 2010. In the said report, it is mentioned that the complainant and the witnesses in the case, in which the Petitioner has been convicted, apprehend threat to their life, if the Petitioner was to be released. This is too vague observation made by the local police. In any case, the appropriate authority ought to have recorded its subjective to satisfaction that the apprehension entered by 2 16 wp.2420.10 the complainant and the witnesses is genuine. Further, nothing prevented the appropriate authority to consider suitable conditions to be imposed so as to ensure that the Petitioner if released on furlough leave, would not indulge in any untoward activity. It was open to the appropriate authority to either restrict the entry of the Petitioner in the area in which the said complainant and the witnesses are ordinarily residing including to require the Petitioner to report to police station on regular basis as may be necessary. These are matters which will have to be considered by the appropriate authority in the first instance. 3 In the circumstances, we set aside the decision of the appropriate authority and instead direct the appropriate authority to reconsider the request of the Petitioner especially when the Petitioner has stated before us on affidavit that the Petitioner will not enter the area where the complainant and the witnesses are ordinarily residing. This petition is disposed of on the above terms. 4 We direct the appropriate authority to reconsider the case of the Petitioner on its own merits in accordance with law and impose such condition as may be warranted in the situation, which decision shall, however, be taken not later than six weeks from the date of receipt of this order. [ P.D. KODE, J ] [ A.M. KHANWILKAR, J ]