Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release of Over-incarcerated POCSO Convict

In a significant judgment delivered on April 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of India ordered the immediate release of Sachin, who had already served eleven years and eight months in prison for a crime that originally carried a seven-year sentence. The case, titled Sachin vs State of Maharashtra, highlights important questions about justice, proportionality in sentencing, and the proper exercise of judicial powers.

The case originated from a 2013 conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, where the Special Court in Warora, Maharashtra had initially sentenced Sachin to seven years rigorous imprisonment. However, subsequent orders by the High Court and Special Court had effectively extended this to life imprisonment, leading to the appellant serving nearly five years more than his original sentence.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma found these orders to be erroneous, stating: ‘We have found that the orders of the High Court and consequently, of the Special Court to be erroneous and the same are liable to be set aside.’ The Court exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do ‘complete justice,’ noting that ‘the unfortunate reality is that in view of the impugned judgment and orders, the appellant has undergone eleven years of actual sentence.’

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In their operative order, the justices directed: ‘the respondent-State and Superintendent, Nagpur Central Jail, Maharashtra are directed to release the appellant from the jail forthwith.’ This immediate release order came after the Court restored the original seven-year sentence, observing that Sachin had already served significantly more time than required.

The judgment makes important observations about the proper limits of judicial discretion in sentencing matters and the need to prevent excessive punishment. While the detailed reasoning is yet to be released, the operative portion clearly establishes that courts must respect the boundaries of prescribed sentences and cannot indirectly extend punishments beyond statutory limits through procedural orders.

This case serves as an important reminder about the principles of proportionality in criminal justice and the Supreme Court’s role as the guardian of constitutional rights against excessive state action. The immediate release order demonstrates the Court’s commitment to correcting manifest injustices, even years after they occur.

Petitioner Name: Sachin.
Respondent Name: State of Maharashtra.
Judgment By: Justice B.V. NAGARATHNA, Justice SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA.
Place Of Incident: Warora, Maharashtra.
Judgment Date: 21-04-2025.
Result: allowed.

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