Overview

• Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Viswanathan issued the order after finding Sohan Singh remained in prison long after a High Court cut his life term to seven years.
• The state’s counsel acknowledged that, after accounting for periods on bail, Singh served about 4.7 years beyond the lawful term.
• The court rebuked Madhya Pradesh for administrative lapses and for filing “misleading” affidavits in the matter.
• Singh was released from Sagar Central Jail on June 6, 2025, after counsel alerted prison authorities and the state legal services authority.
• The bench directed the Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority to survey prisons to identify and remedy other cases of over-incarceration.