IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl.Misc. No.68279-M of 2006 Date of Decision:- 08.03.2007 Charanjit Singh ....Petitioner(s) through Ms.B.P.K.Brar, Advocate vs. State of Punjab & another ....Respondent(s) through Mr.B.S.Baath, AAG, Punjab. *** CORAM:-HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. *** 1) Whether Reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2) To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3) Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? *** SURYA KANT, J. The prayer in this petition is to release the petitioner on parole for agricultural operations. It is averred that the petitioner is owner in possession of some agricultural land. It is also averred that though a favourable report was sent by the District Magistrate in September, 2006, no decision has been taken by the Competent Authority so far. The respondents have filed their reply in Court which is taken on record. In para 8 of the reply, it is stated that the petitioner's case for his release on parole is still under consideration in the Office of Director General of Police (Prisons), Punjab (Chandigarh). There is no explanation whatsoever by the respondents for the inordinate delay in taking decision on the requests for paroles made by the convicts. Such kind of applications need to be decided in a time bound Crl.Misc. No.68279-M of 2006 -2- manner. It is made clear that in future, if it is brought to the notice of this Court that the Authorities have failed to decide the matter within a reasonable period, directions to suitably compensate the applicant-convicts would be issued. In the present case, having regard to the above-noticed stand taken by the respondents, this petition is disposed of with a direction to the Director General of Police (Prisons), Punjab to consider and dispose of the petitioner's case within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. March 08, 2007 ( SURYA KANT ) poonam JUDGE