'Serious Lapse': Supreme Court Seeks Explanation From MP Govt For Convict Spending Additional Year In Jail After Sentence Period
The Supreme Court recently sought a reply from the State of Madhya Pradesh as to why a person, convicted for the offence of rape, remained in jail for more than eight years after having undergone the entire sentence of seven years.
Remarking that it's a matter of "serious lapse," a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan has asked the State to file a reply within two weeks.
"We would like to know how such a serious lapse occurred and why the petitioner remained in jail for more than 8 years even after undergoing the entire sentence of seven years. We want the State to offer appropriate explanation in this regard."
To put it briefly, the petitioner was convicted in 2004 by a Sessions Court in Madhya Pradesh for an offence punishable under Section 376(1), 450 and 560B of the Indian Penal Code and was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2,000.
In Appeal, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2007 partly allowed his appeal and reduced his sentence to 7 years. However, it was only in June, this year, the petitioner came to be released from jail after having spent an additional of more than eight years imprisoned.
Case Details: SOHAN SINGH @ BABLU v STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
Appearances: For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Mahfooz Ahsan Nazki, AOR Ms. Ayushma Awasthi, Adv. Mr. Vivek Rajan D.b, Adv. Mr. Hemant Gupta, Adv.
For Respondent(s) : Ms. Mrinal Gopal Elker, AOR Mr. Abhimanyu Singh- G.A., Adv. Mr. Saurabh Singh, Adv.
Related- Supreme Court Directs States/UTs To Ascertain If Any Prisoner Is Remaining In Jail Even After Serving Sentence