Regd. No. NW/CH-22 Regd. No. CHD/0092/2018-2020 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020 1047
(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)
EXTRAORDINARY
Published by Authority
CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
(BHADRA 6, 1942 SAKA)
PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SECRETARIAT
NOTIFICATION
The 28th August, 2020
No. 16-PLA-2020/60.- The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners
(Temporary Release) Amendment Bill, 2020 is hereby published for general
information under the proviso to rule 121 of the Rules of Procedure and
Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Punjab Legislative
Assembly):-
Bill No.16-PLA-2020
THE PUNJAB GOOD CONDUCT PRISONERS (TEMPORARY
RELEASE) AMENDMENT BILL, 2020
A
BILL
further to amend the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary
Release) Act, 1962.
BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Seventy-
first Year of the Republic of India, as follows:-
1. (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners
(Temporary Release) Amendment Act, 2020.
Short-title and commencement
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1048 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020
(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)
(2) It shall come into force on and with effect from the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962,
in section 3, in sub-section (2-A), after the second proviso, the following proviso
shall be added, namely:-
Amendment of section 3 of Punjab Act 11 of 1962
"Provided further that during disasters under the Disaster Management
Act, 2005, or epidemics under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the State
Government may, by a special notification published in the Official Gazette,
allow temporary release beyond the maximum period of sixteen weeks during
a calendar year, and may also waive the condition of temporary release being
availed of on quarterly basis."
3. (1) The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release)
Repeal and saving.
Amendment Ordinance, 2020 (Punjab Ordinance No.1 of 2020) is hereby
repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken
under the principal Act, as amended by the Ordinance referred to in sub-
section (1), shall be deemed to have done or taken under the principal Act, as
amended by this Act.
PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020
1049
(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
As per extant provisions of The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners
(Temporary Release) Act 1962, a total of 16 weeks parole in one calendar
year can be given to the prisoners maintaining good conduct in Jails. This is to
be availed on a quarterly basis.
The present situation of the pandemic of COVID-19 may require
extension of the parole beyond 16-weeks' in a calendar year. However, there
are no existing provisions for same even during exceptional circumstances
like an epidemic or pandemic or any disaster. Hence, there is an urgent need
to add an enabling provision in The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary
Release) Act 1962, to empower the State Government to issue suitable
notification(s) for extension of parole in situations of extreme emergency like
disasters, epidemics, etc.
Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa,
Cooperation and Jails Minister, Punjab.