In Brief
Joseph, convicted in 1998 for murder and robbery committed in 1996, sought premature release after completing over 26 years of actual imprisonment. The Kerala government thrice rejected the Prison Advisory Board's recommendations for his release based on a blanket policy excluding murder of women from premature release consideration. The Supreme Court held that such categorical exclusions violate Article 14 and defeat reformation principles. The executive's discretionary power under Articles 72 and 161 cannot be fettered by inflexible guidelines. Under applicable prison rules, a life sentence is deemed 20 years; Joseph, having served 26+ years with demonstrated good conduct, had a legal right to individual consideration. The Court directed his immediate release.
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