1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 2349 OF 2007 Rajaram Nandlal Kevat. ..... ... Petitioner. Versus State of Maharashtra and Anr. ..... Respondents. None for the Petitioner. Mr. P. A. Pol, APP for the State. CORAM: BILAL NAZKI and A. P. DESHPANDE, JJ. DATED : 1ST APRIL, 2008. P. C.: The persons convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment can be released before serving the actual life imprisonment in terms of the policy framed by the Government. But the persons convicted of offences under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment cannot get the benefit of such a policy and have to remain in prison till death. 2. The petitioner, who wrote a letter to this Court from the prison, had undergone actual sentence of 17 years and the total sentence of 24 years. He had been convicted of an offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment. We had passed a detailed order 2 on 11th February, 2008 asking the Government to consider framing of a policy in such cases as well. Impressed by the plight of the petitioner, who had already undergone sentence of 24 years, we directed his release on parole. But we are now told that the petitioner could not produce surety and as such he was not benefited of our said order. The framing of policy is under consideration of the Government. But at the same time, the Government has decided to release the petitioner by remitting the remaining portion of sentence of imprisonment and the Government has passed order accordingly. 3. Since the petitioner is now being released by remission of sentence, no further orders are needed to be passed in this petition and the petition is, accordingly, dismissed. Sd/- (BILAL NAZKI, J.) Sd/- (A. P. DESHPANDE, J.)