The Supreme Court has ordered the release of 105-year-old Rasik Chandra Mondal by waiving the remaining portion of his life sentence, taking into account his advanced age and deteriorating health. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that there was no need for Mondal to return to prison, making his interim bail granted in November 2024 final. The court formally closed the case, allowing the centenarian to spend the rest of his life outside jail.

Mondal, a resident of West Bengal’s Malda district born in 1920, was convicted in a murder case in 1994 and had remained in prison for decades before being granted interim bail. His appeals against the conviction were dismissed by both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. In 2020, at the age of 99, he sought premature release, citing his age and multiple health-related issues. The Supreme Court had issued notice to the West Bengal government in 2021 before eventually granting him interim relief in 2024.

While the conviction itself remains unchanged, the Supreme Court exercised its discretion to waive the remainder of the life sentence on humanitarian grounds. The judges noted that considering Mondal’s exceptional age and medical condition, sending him back to prison would serve little purpose. The ruling brings an end to a legal battle spanning several decades and ensures that the 105-year-old convict will remain free for the rest of his life.