SALIM AHMED Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner who was sentenced to imprisonment for life, has already undergone incarceration for more than 14 years. It appears that the Delhi Administration on the recommendations of the Sentence Revising Board has remitted the unexpired portion of the sentence subject to the condition that the executes a personal bond in the sum Rs. 10,000.00 with two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the District Magistrate, Delhi for keeping good behaviour and maintaining peace during the unexpired portion of his sentence.

(2.) The petitioner says that he will never be able to enjoy the fruits of the order as he is not in a position to furnish sureties. He tells me that his long and dreary years of incarceration saw the death of his parents and severing of all contacts with the outside world, and that today he finds himself friendless and even devoid of financial means to even arrange for professional sureties who, unfortunately, still abound but for a hefty price.

(3.) What should a man in such a situation do? Should he be doomed to a slow death within the high walls of prison? There are oases, but why deprive desert sands to become green?