Significance of the Judgment

♤ Court has barred State governments from invoking their statutory remission power for the premature release of those sentenced by a High Court or the Supreme Court to a specified term above 14 years without remission.

♤ Rejection of the theory that every convict should have a ray of hope to be freed on the grounds of remission

♤ The State government will now have to get the concurrence of the Centre in cases investigated by Central agencies before it can use its power of remission to release convicts

♤ Prisoners cannot be released on the whims and fancies of politicians

♤ Hardened, remorseless criminals cannot be released even after 14 years of imprisonment

♤ The judgment will also settle the law on the power of State governments to remit sentences, especially of prisoners condemned to death whose sentences have been commuted to life.