1993 Train Blasts Convict Habib Ahmed Khan Released – Supreme Court’s Stance on 96-Year-Old Life Sentence.

Habib Ahmed Khan has approached the top court to request permanent parole due to his declining health and advanced age. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan has directed the Rajasthan government to consider his case from a human rights perspective. Khan’s legal counsel stated that he has been in prison for over 27 years and has been granted parole three times.

The bench, after reviewing Khan’s medical reports, questioned the purpose of his continued incarceration at this stage, emphasizing the severity of his medical condition. The bench urged the Additional Solicitor General to consider remission for Khan and to view the case from a human rights angle. The ASG noted that while a convict may apply for remission to the state government, Khan’s conviction for a terror offense might hinder this process.

Justice Oka questioned the significance of Article 21 in the Constitution and highlighted Khan’s medical condition. Meanwhile, Justice Bhuyan emphasized the sensitivity of the law towards Khan’s situation. The bench instructed the ASG to seek clarification on whether Khan could be granted remission or permanent parole and set the matter for a hearing in two weeks.

Khan was arrested in 1994 for his involvement in train blasts in 1993 and was convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in 2004. His conviction and life sentence were upheld by the Supreme Court in 2016. In 2021, he was granted parole by the top court due to his deteriorating health.

The Rajasthan High Court had granted him parole twice before, considering his age and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In conclusion, despite the severity of Khan’s medical condition and the length of his imprisonment, the court has asked the Rajasthan government to review his case in the context of human rights. The matter is scheduled for another hearing in two weeks.