Supreme Court modifies life sentence, orders convict’s release after 23 years

The Supreme Court in June 2026 modified the life sentence of a man convicted of murder in 1998, ordering his release after he had already served 23 years, 6 months, and 3 days of imprisonment. The court held that constitutional courts have the power to modify a life sentence to a fixed term, provided the term imposed is not less than 14 years.

The appellant, Munna Moyuddin Shaikh of Gujarat, was 21 years old when the incident occurred. Relying on Union of India v. V. Sriharan and Shiva Kumar v. State of Karnataka, the bench ruled that modifying a life sentence to a specified period does not amount to enhancement of punishment. The court noted that life imprisonment under Section 53 read with Section 45 IPC means imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's natural life, subject to remission claims.

As Shaikh had already undergone more than the required minimum of 14 years, the court directed his immediate release from custody.