Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief to 103-Year-Old Convict Citing Age and Health Concerns
On November 29, the Supreme Court granted interim release to a 103-year-old convict serving a life sentence for the offence of murder.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar considered the plea filed by the petitioner, seeking interim release. The petitioner had been convicted in 1994 by the trial court under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for a murder committed in 1988 and had been serving a life sentence since then. In 2018, the Calcutta High Court upheld the conviction. Subsequently, in 2020, the petitioner submitted a writ petition requesting premature release on the grounds of advanced age and deteriorating health.
Advocate Astha Sharma, representing the State of West Bengal, informed the Court that the petitioner would reach the age of 104 in April 2025. Acknowledging the significant medical challenges associated with his advanced age, the bench approved interim relief. The Court’s order stated: "As an interim order, we direct that the petitioner, Rasik Chandra Mondal, will be released on interim bail/parole during the pendency of the present writ petition, on terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial Court."
Previously, a bench comprising Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice Sanjiv Khanna had issued notice in the matter, instructing the superintendent of the correctional facility where the petitioner was housed to submit a status report regarding his physical and medical condition.
Case Titile: RASIK CHANDRA MONDAL v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL
Case No: Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 313/2020
Date: November-29-2024
Bench: Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar
[Read/Download order]
