Emergency Leave to Attend Daughter's enrollment ceremony as a lawyer : Granted considering emotional significance
Kerala High Court Grants Convict Emergency Leave to Attend Daughter's Enrollment Ceremony. Court emphasizes the emotional significance of the event, clarifies decision as non-precedential.
In a landmark decision reflecting judicial compassion, the Kerala High Court has granted a convict, Abdul Muneer, emergency leave to attend his daughter's enrollment ceremony as a lawyer. The judgment, passed by Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan, underscores the emotional significance of the event, allowing the convict to be present at a pivotal moment in his daughter's life.
Abdul Muneer, currently serving a sentence at the Central Prison and Correctional Home, Tavanur, had his initial request for leave rejected by prison authorities. His daughter, a recent graduate from the School of Legal Studies, Kannur, is set to enroll as a lawyer on October 11th and 12th, 2025. Muneer argued that his presence was crucial for this milestone, a sentiment the court ultimately upheld.
The court acknowledged the established principle that emergency leave is not routinely granted to convicts. However, it emphasized the unique circumstances of this case, highlighting the emotional impact on Muneer's daughter. "Even if the petitioner is a convict and the whole world treats him as a criminal, the father will be one of the heroes of every child," noted Justice Kunhikrishnan in his judgment.
The decision mandates the prison authorities to release Muneer on a five-day leave, contingent on a bond of Rs. 1,00,000 with two solvent sureties. The court was explicit in stating that this ruling, driven by the case's peculiar facts, should not be considered a precedent for future cases.
Legal experts view this decision as a testament to the judiciary's ability to balance the letter of the law with human compassion, providing a temporary reprieve for a father to support his daughter in her professional journey.
Bottom Line:
Emergency leave for a convict granted in consideration of the emotional significance of attending his daughter's enrollment ceremony as a lawyer. Leave granted in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, without setting a precedent.
Statutory provision(s): None specified in the judgment.
