PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020

(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)

1047

( 1047 )

Regd. No. NW/CH-22

Regd. No. CHD/0092/2018-2020

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

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020

(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)

1048

(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:-

“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)

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repealed.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.

Amendment of

section 3 of

Punjab Act 11

of 1962

Repeal and

saving.

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), AUGUST 28, 2020

(BHDR 6, 1942 SAKA)

1049

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.

______________

CHANDIGARH

SHASHI LAKHANPAL MISHRA

THE 28th AUGUST, 2020

SECRETARY.

2091/8-2020/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar