Jailbird's Bail: Supporting Daughter's Exams

In a compassionate ruling, the Orissa High Court on Monday granted interim bail to a convict serving a life sentence. The temporary release, until March 10, was specifically to allow the father to support his 16-year-old daughter as she navigates her ongoing High School Certificate (HSC) Examination. The convict, who is in his 40s and incarcerated since 2021 for a murder committed in 2010, presented his daughter's exam schedule and the challenges she faced, including commuting to a center approximately 5 km from their village.

The court considered a police inquiry report, which verified the daughter's exam details and confirmed the elderly status of her grandparents, aged 76 and 70. Recognizing these circumstances, the bench observed that interim relief was warranted. The convict is to be released by the sessions judge of Jagatsinghpur, subject to certain conditions, and must surrender immediately after March 10. His criminal appeal challenging the conviction will be heard after this period.