Premature release representation must be decided within a fixed time when it remains pending before the authority.

A pending representation seeking premature release of a life convict was required to be acted on by the competent authority, and the Court directed the first respondent to dispose of it within twelve weeks from receipt of the order copy. The operative point was the need for timely consideration of the request rather than any adjudication on the merits of premature release.

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Issues: Whether the respondents should be directed to dispose of the petitioner's representation seeking premature release of the life convict.

Analysis: The representation seeking premature release was stated to be pending before the competent authority. In view of that position, the Court considered it appropriate to require the first respondent to act on the representation within a fixed time.

Conclusion: The first respondent was directed to dispose of the petitioner's representation within twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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