Kerala High Court Rejects Life Convict’s Plea for Emergency Leave to Care for Pregnant Wife

The Kerala High Court refused emergency leave to a life convict seeking to care for his two-month pregnant wife, conceived via IVF, citing that parole for serious offenders cannot overlook victims’ interests.

Rule 400(1) of the Kerala Prisons Rules allows emergency leave only for death or serious illness of close relatives, their marriage, or house collapse, with rare exceptions. The convict, jailed for murder, did not meet these criteria.

The Court warned against misuse of emergency leave for personal functions and stressed that most fundamental rights of convicts remain suspended in prison.

The petition was accordingly dismissed.

[Bindhu K.P. v State of Kerala and Ors]