(1) The State Government or any other officer authorized by it in this behalf may, in consultation with the District Magistrate and subject to such conditions and in such manner as may be prescribed, release temporarily, on furlough, any prisoner who:-
(a) has immediately before the date of his temporary release, undergone imprisonment for a period o~ three years, excluding 'ff • remissions; and .'
earned at least three annual good conduct remissions;
(b) has not during such period committed any jail offence and has ..•.
Provided that nothing herein shall apply to a prisoner who-
(i) is a habitual offender as defined in clause (3) of section 2 of the Punjab Habitual Offenders (Control and Reforms) Act, 1952, or
(ii) has been convicted of robbery or dacoity or such other offence /.3 q1 J....<, \1 nL as the State Government may, by notification, specify.
(2) The period of furlough for which a prisoner is eligible under subsection (l) shall be three weeks during the first year of his release and two v:,.eeks during each successive year thereafter.
(3) Subject to the provisions of clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 8, the period of release referred to in sub-section (I) shall count towards the total period of the sentence of a prisoner.
5. For the purpose of calculating the temporary release of a prisoner under section 3 and 4, the days of departure from and arrival at the prison shall be excluded.
6. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3 and 4 , no prisoner shall be entitled to be released under this Act if, on the report of the District Magistrate, the State Government or an officer authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that his release is likely to endanger the security of the State or the maintenance of public order.
7. If on the report of the District Magistrate, the State Government is satisfied that a prisoner's family cannot bear the expenses of his journey from and to the prison after his temporary release under this Act, the expenses may be borne by the State Government to such extent and in such manner as may be prescribed.