The Delhi High Court has extended by four weeks the parole of murder convict Praveen Rana, allowing him to tend to his agricultural land devastated by recent heavy rainfall and floods.
Justice Arun Monga, while passing the order on Monday, observed that the agricultural recovery process could not be effectively undertaken without the convict’s personal supervision. The court noted that the survival and education of Rana’s dependent family members—his widowed mother and two minor children—hinged entirely on the farmland.
“The petitioner’s continued presence is not only unforeseen, being an act of God (heavy rains), but otherwise also appears to be necessary for sustaining his family’s only source of livelihood,” the court said. It highlighted the urgent need to restore the inundated farmland with financial arrangements, fertilisers, pesticides, and other essential inputs now that floodwaters have receded.
Rana had earlier been granted furlough in June to sow seasonal crops on his 1.5 acres of agricultural land. However, subsequent torrential rains completely submerged the fields, destroying the crops. His counsel argued that the agricultural activities for which he was originally released remained unfinished and required his active involvement for recovery.
The lawyer also stressed that Rana’s family had no alternative means of livelihood, with his children—aged 14 and 15—and his mother fully dependent on farming income for sustenance and education.
While extending the parole, the court clarified that it would be treated as a “second parole” and accounted for under the jail manual.
The prosecution opposed the plea, contending that Rana had approached the court belatedly and his conduct did not inspire confidence. However, the bench found merit in the humanitarian grounds raised by the defence, concluding that his temporary release was essential for his family’s survival.
