Tripura High Court sets aside State Level Committee decision denying premature release to seven convicts, citing improper application of government norms. The court orders fresh review under the September 3, 2025 notification, with further hearing scheduled for October 7, 2026.
The Tripura High Court has set aside the decision of the State Level Committee that denied the premature release of seven convicted prisoners and directed the committee to reconsider their cases strictly in accordance with the norms prescribed by the state government.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit passed the order on Monday while hearing a suo motu writ petition concerning the premature release of prisoners in the state.
The court took note of the period of incarceration already undergone by the seven convicts, which ranged between 15 and 21 years. It also observed that the respective prison superintendents had recommended their premature release after considering their cases.
However, the State Level Committee declined to grant premature release to the seven prisoners, relying on a Police Verification Report while examining their applications.
The High Court observed that the Tripura government’s Home (Jail) Department notification issued on September 3, 2025, which amended the norms governing premature release, did not prescribe any requirement for a Police Verification Report.
The bench consequently found that the State Level Committee had not properly applied its mind to the principles and norms governing the consideration of premature release cases. On this ground, the court set aside the committee’s decision dated August 21, 2026.
The High Court directed the State Level Committee to undertake a fresh consideration of the cases of all seven convicts. The reconsideration must be carried out strictly in accordance with the norms prescribed by the Tripura government under its September 3, 2025 notification.
The order effectively requires the authorities to reassess the eligibility of the seven prisoners without relying on a requirement that, according to the court, was not included in the amended premature release guidelines.
Advocate General S M Chakraborty appeared on behalf of the Tripura government in the proceedings, assisted by advocate Pinki Chakraborty.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on October 7, 2026. The State Level Committee is now required to reconsider the seven cases in light of the High Court’s observations and the applicable government norms.
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The High Court’s intervention comes after the premature release applications were considered by the state-level authority following recommendations from prison officials. With the earlier decision now set aside, the cases will have to undergo a fresh review in accordance with the legal and administrative framework specified by the state government.
