"Heinousness of Offence Alone Not Ground to Deny Remission": Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that a convict's plea for remission cannot be rejected solely based on the heinousness of the offence.

The Bench quashed the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) decision denying premature release to Rohit Chaturvedi, a convict in the 2003 Madhumita murder case who served over 22 years.

The Court termed the MHA's order "cryptic and non-speaking," noting it ignored Uttarakhand’s recommendation based on his good jail conduct.

Emphasizing that remission evaluates reformation and reintegration rather than extending punishment, the Court ordered his immediate release to uphold reformative justice principles.

[Rohit Chaturvedi v. State of Uttarakhand & Ors.]