Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Life Imprisonment Without Remission, Dismisses Appeals
The Supreme Court of India decided that some prisoners can be kept in jail for the rest of their lives without the chance to be released early.
The court said this is allowed by the Constitution.
It also said that prisoners must still follow normal rules for asking to be released early.
The judges used a previous big court decision to support their ruling.
This means the court will not let people use a special right to skip other steps in the legal process.
Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of life‑long imprisonment without remission.
Dismissed writ petitions from four sets of convicts, including death‑row inmates.
Court cited 2016 Constitution Bench ruling in Union of India v. V. Sriharan.
Clarified that Article 32 cannot bypass statutory remission or clemency procedures.
Stated that “without remission” sentences are outside ordinary remission framework.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Justices Sanjay Karol and Augustine George Masih
- What
- Upheld the constitutional validity of life imprisonment without remission and dismissed writ petitions
- When
- 30 July 2026
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To affirm the legality of such sentences and maintain proper legal procedures
- Court Decision
- Upheld life imprisonment without remission
- Judges
- Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice Augustine George Masih
- Date
- 30 July 2026
- Case Reference
- Union of India v. V. Sriharan (2016)
- Legal Basis
- Section 302 IPC, Section 432 CrPC, Article 32 Constitution