Madras HC Rules Life Convicts Entitled to 40 Days Annual Leave in Two Instalments

The Madras High Court ruled that life convicts who have completed 14 years of incarceration are entitled to 40 days of ordinary annual leave in two instalments.

The Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and Sunder Mohan ordered that the word 'spell' in the proviso to Rule 22(2)(c) must be read as 'instalment' to remove ambiguity.

The verdict was issued while allowing a petition by life convict S. Babu, who was denied 14 days of leave on the ground that he had already availed 26 days in April 2026.