‘Act on plea of 2 old convicts’
Two women senior citizens aged 80 and 90 years, convicted of dowry harassment, had written to the high court requesting early release as they wanted to be with their dear ones in the final days of their life. The Bombay high court on Friday asked the state government to consider the plea of the two women on a priority basis.
Hausabai Koli, 80, convicted for murdering her daughter-in-law for dowry, has spent over 17 years in jail. She has pleaded for premature release saying her daughter and grandson were keen to take her home. Recommending her early release, the medical officer of Kolhapur prison who submitted his health report stated that Koli was suffering from various age related ailments and would not live long in jail conditions. Another 90-year-old convict, Champa Kamble, has pleaded for release to spend the rest of her life with her family. Both the convicts sought relief from the high court by writing letters from Kolhapur jail where they are lodged.
Additional public prosecutor Poornima Kantharia informed the court that the plea of both convicts were pending before the governor. Thereupon, the court asked the authority to consider their plea urgently in view of their old age.
Advocate Arfan Sait, who was appointed by the high court’s legal aid cell, said under the Maharashtra Prison Review of Sentence Rules, 1972, a medical officer can recommend early release of a convict on the ground that he or she is suffering from illness which may aggravate the condition or result in death.
Making an observation on the plea, Justice Abhay Oak and Justice Sadhana Jadhav said, “We are of the view that a grave urgency is involved in the petition considering their age and condition.”
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