Kerala High Court Grants 10-Day Leave To Life Convict Pursuing LLB Course To Attend Internship

The Kerala High Court on Monday (September 8) granted 10-day leave to a man, convicted and sentenced to life for murder and presently pursuing 3-year LL.B. course, to attend internship scheduled from September 10-16. 

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan relied on the judgment in Pattakka Suresh Babu v. State of Kerala and observed:

"The Division Bench of this Court in Pattakka Suresh Babu's case (supra) observed that, a prisoner who intends to pursue his studies should be allowed to pursue his studies through online, and for other internal examinations, the prisoner should be granted leave. I am of the considered opinion that the petitioner should be given leave in the light of the observation of the Division Bench in Pattakka Suresh Babu's case (supra)." 

The petition was preferred by a person who is presently undergoing life imprisonment at the Central Prison and Correctional Centre, Kannur for committing the offence under Section 302 IPC [Murder]. He is pursuing 3 year three-year LLB course at KMCT Law College, Kuttippuram, and attending classes online. Being in the 4th semester, he is required to attend internship in person for a duration of one week.

Though he made application to the Superintendent of the prison, the same was not considered. Thus, he approached the High Court.

Allowing the petition, the Court directed the Jail Superintendent to grant the petitioner "10-day ordinary leave" to attend the internship programme, on executing a bond of Rs. 1 Lakh with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jail authorities. 

Case No: W.P (Crl) No.1170 of 2025

Case Title: Karuvangadan Mukthar @ Muthu v. The Superintendent and Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 544

Counsel for the petitioner: Sunny Mathew, Bhavana K.K.

Counsel for the respondents: Seetha S., Sr. Public Prosecutor

Click to Read/Download Judgment