The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Sentence Review Board to consider all relevant factors while examining the premature release of a convict undergoing life imprisonment for murder, as per the Goa Prison Rules, 2006.
Shyam Dhulo Gawas, presently serving a life sentence in the Central Jail, Colvale, had approached the High Court after the Sentence Review Board refused his premature release by not taking into account the remission earned by him under the Goa Prison Rules, 2006.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Public Prosecutor S. G. Bhobe informed the Court that the petitioner’s case had been considered by the Sentence Review Board in its meeting held on October 4, 2024, and that the Board was likely to meet again in the coming month to review his case using fresh parameters.
Recording this statement, the division bench disposed of the writ petition, stating that the petitioner was at liberty to approach the Court again if his grievance remained unresolved.
It may be recalled that on August 7, 2012, the Additional Sessions Court had sentenced Shyam Gawas of St. Cruz to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000, or in default, rigorous imprisonment for two months, for murdering his brother Ishwar by striking him with an axe on the head on November 15, 2009. The High Court had dismissed his criminal appeal on February 9, 2018.
Last month, the High Court had similarly directed the Sentence Review Board to reconsider the plea for premature release of life convict Nafiyaj Shaikh Mamlekar, one of four persons serving life imprisonment for kidnapping and killing their teenage friend Mandar Surlakar of Vasco in August 2006.
