'Exceptional Case': AP High Court Permits Life Convict To Attend Son's Wedding Who Couldn't Be Released As Co-Convict Was Out On Parole
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has permitted a life convict to attend the wedding ceremony of his son. While the life convict had been granted parole, his release was contingent on the return of another convict involved in the same offence who was out on parole at that time.While referring to Rule 27 of the Suspension of Sentence on Parole Rules 2024, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj...
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has permitted a life convict to attend the wedding ceremony of his son. While the life convict had been granted parole, his release was contingent on the return of another convict involved in the same offence who was out on parole at that time.
While referring to Rule 27 of the Suspension of Sentence on Parole Rules 2024, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao, held,
“In terms of Rule 27 of the Rules, it appears that the Superintendent of Central Prison is of the opinion that since there is already another convict namely Vemireddy Bala Chinnareddy on parole, granting parole to the petitioner's father would lead to law and order complications. However, considering the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case where the convict's son i.e., the petitioner herein is getting married on 11.05.2025, we feel that interests of justice, as an exceptional case, warrant that the petitioner's father be permitted to join the wedding celebrations on 10.05.2025 and 11.05.2025 under proper police escort.”
Background
The Court was dealing with a Writ Appeal filed by one Vennapusa Raghunath Reddy (petitioner), the son of a convict prisoner named Vennapusa Gangadhar Reddy, who was serving a life sentence.
It was the case of the petitioner that the application of his father, for grant of parole, was allowed subject to the condition that another convict in the same offence, who is currently on parole, returns. This was done in order to avoid any law and order situation, in terms of Rule 27 of the Rules in G.O. Ms. No.04, Home (Paroles & HRC) Department, dated 06.01.2025. The petitioner further contended that his father had earlier been released on parole.
On the contrary, the respondents argued that one Vemireddy Bala Chinnareddy was granted parole on 26.03.2025. The parole was granted for 30 days, which was extended by another 15 days, and the said period would expire on 14.05.2025. It was urged that the petitioner's father could be granted parole only after the said period expired.
At the outset, the Court noted,
“On a perusal of Rule 27 of the Rules, it can be seen that while considering the case of parole proposal of prisoners where there are more than one convicts under the same offence, the Rule envisages that the Superintendent of the Jail should exercise due diligence and process the parole application in such a way so as to avoid any law and order complications once the convicts are released on parole.”
The Court held that while Vemireddy Bala Chinnareddy was already on parole, the present case was an exceptional case wherein the son of the life convict (petitioner) was getting married. Allowing the life convict to attend the wedding ceremony, the Court directed,
“The Superintendent, Central Prison, Kadapa, accordingly, is ordered to organize proper police escort to the convict prisoner on 10.05.2025 to be taken to the village of the petitioner's father where the wedding ceremony is to be held and be brought back by the evening of 12.05.2025 by 5:00 P.M.”
The writ appeal was accordingly disposed of.
Case Details:
Case Number: WRIT APPEAL NO: 597 of 2025
Case Title: Vennapusa Raghunath Reddy Vs. The State of Andhra Pradesh and others
Date: 08.05.2025