The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to a 104-year-old man convicted of murder in 1988, taking into account his advanced age and deteriorating health. The convict, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1994, had appealed for his release due to his declining medical condition.
The man, born in 1920 in Malda district, West Bengal, was arrested in connection with a murder case from 1988 and subsequently convicted in 1994. His appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Calcutta High Court in 2018, and the Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2019. In 2020, the convict filed a petition requesting premature release, citing his old age and health complications.
In his petition, the convict argued that due to his health condition, it was impossible for him to continue serving his life sentence. He also sought exemption from the usual 14-year minimum parole or remission requirement for life sentence prisoners. The petition highlighted that he would soon turn 104, further justifying his request for early release.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, instructed the West Bengal government to submit a health report on the convict. While the state’s counsel, Advocate Astha Sharma, informed the court that his health was stable despite age-related ailments, the court acknowledged the medical complexities associated with his age. The convict is set to turn 104 in April 2025.
Considering his age and health, the Supreme Court decided to grant interim bail to the convict, allowing him temporary release while his petition for permanent release is under review. The trial court has been directed to determine the terms and conditions for the interim bail. This decision comes after more than 25 years of legal proceedings and reflects the court’s consideration of the convict’s health in light of his long incarceration.
This interim release provides the convict with temporary relief as his petition for permanent release continues to be considered
