From Life Sentence to Release: How a Poor Defendant Spent Two Decades in Prison

Economic hardship prevented Jha from filing his appeal promptly, leaving his case dormant in the High Court for more than 16 years. By the time the appeal was finally heard, Jha had already served close to 20 years, including time counted towards remission. The court questioned the 11‑month delay in processing his early release proposal and ordered the state to cover his medical and rehabilitation expenses.