Ravinder Rana Vs Union of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ravinder Rana Vs Union of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Union of India directed to treat the petition as the petitioner's representation for consideration of concurrence to premature release and decide it within four weeks; petitioner exempted from surrendering for four weeks from 16.02.2026; liberty reserved to move a fresh petition if concurrence is not decided within four weeks; copy of order to be sent to the Jail Superintendent and Ministry of Home Affairs through learned CGSC.

Issue for consideration

How the writ petition should be dealt with, given that the petitioner's premature release, though recommended by the Sentence Review Board and approved by the Lt. Governor, still awaits the concurrence of Union of India.

Court's answer

The petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent no. 1 (Union of India) to treat the petition as the petitioner's representation for consideration of concurrence to his premature release and to decide the same within four weeks.

Ratio / Principle

Considering the peculiar circumstances of the case, the petitioner is exempted from surrendering for a period of four weeks from 16.02.2026.

Key takeaways

If respondent no. 1 does not decide the issue of concurrence within four weeks, the petitioner shall be at liberty to move a fresh petition for appropriate directions.ratio¶16
For compliance, a copy of the order is to be sent to the concerned Jail Superintendent and to the concerned office of the Ministry of Home Affairs through learned CGSC.ratio¶17

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Girish Kathpalia, J.), by oral judgment dated 05.02.2026, disposed of W.P.(CRL) 428/2026 filed by Ravinder Rana, whose premature release from prison had been recommended by the Sentence Review Board and approved by the Hon'ble Lt. Governor but was awaiting the concurrence of Union of India, the conviction having been on prosecution by the CBI. The Court directed respondent no. 1 (Union of India) to treat the petition as the petitioner's representation for consideration of concurrence and decide it within four weeks. Considering that the petitioner was on parole to care for his cancer-ridden father and was scheduled to surrender on 16.02.2026, he was exempted from surrendering for four weeks from that date, with liberty to move a fresh petition if concurrence was not decided within four weeks. Copies of the order were directed to be sent to the concerned Jail Superintendent and the Ministry of Home Affairs through learned CGSC. No statute or precedent was cited.

$~58

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

% Date of Decision: 05.02.2026

+ W.P.(CRL) 428/2026 & CRL.M.A. 3931/2026

RAVINDER RANA .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Advocate

versus

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Neeraj Kumar, CGSC with Mr. Shashwat and Mr. Vivek Nagar, Advocates

CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

J U D G M E N T (ORAL)

Petitioner, whose premature release from prison has been recommended by the Sentence Review Board and approved by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, is awaiting release because the said approval needs concurrence of Union of India ( respondent no. 1 ) as the conviction was on prosecution by the CBI.

Learned CGSC for respondent no. 1 appearing on advance intimation accepts notice.

After some discussion, as requested by both sides, this petition is disposed of directing the respondent no. 1 to treat this petition as representation of the petitioner for consideration of concurrence and decide the same within four weeks.

W.P.(CRL) 428/2026

Page 1 of 2 pages Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, GIRISH 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af3962c 6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b40f80 KATHPALIA cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.02.05 17:50:11 -08'00'

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEETU N NAIR Signing Da te:0 5.02.2026 17:55:24

Learned counsel for petitioner also submits that currently, petitioner is on parole in order to take care of his cancer-ridden father and is scheduled to surrender back on 16.02.2026. Learned counsel for petitioner has taken me through elaborate minutes of meeting of the SRB on the basis whereof his premature release was recommended. Considering the peculiar circumstances of this case, the petitioner is exempted from surrendering for a period of four weeks from 16.02.2026. In case, respondent no. 1 does not decide the issue of concurrence within four weeks from today, petitioner shall be at liberty to move fresh petition for appropriate directions.

For compliance, copy of this order be sent to the concerned Jail Superintendent as well as to the concerned office of Ministry of Home Affairs through learned CGSC.

Accordingly, the petition and the accompanying application stand disposed of.

GIRISH KATHPALIA

Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4 afec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626c acca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5 d15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c4879 65ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.02.05 17:50:40 -08'00'

GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE)

FEBRUARY 05, 2026/ as

Page 2 of 2 pages

W.P.(CRL) 428/2026

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEETU N NAIR Signing Da te:0 5.02.2026 17:55:24