सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने गुजरात को समय से पहले रिहाई निर्णय में देरी पर स्वयंस्फूर्त अपमान के बारे में चेतावनी दी The Supreme Court issued a stern warning to the Gujarat government for not deciding a life‑convict’s premature release application within the period prescribed by the State’s own policy. The bench, comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan , indicated that continued non‑compliance could trigger suo motu contempt proceedings against senior officials. Key Developments On 30 March 2026 , the Court clarified that failure to issue a final order by the day a convict completes 14 years of actual incarceration will attract strict penal orders. The State informed the Court on 16 March 2026 that its competent committee meets only four times a year, causing the delay. The Court labelled this explanation “absolutely unacceptable” and listed the matter for review on 7 April 2026 . Officials—including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department Secretary, and Inspector General of Prisons—were warned to appear personally if the final order is not recorded. Important Facts The petitioner, Mahesh Kumar Dhisalal Jangid , had completed the minimum period for consideration under the Premature Release Policy . Despite a three‑month window mandated by the policy, no decision was rendered even after a three‑month extension granted on 12 December 2025 . The conviction stems from a 2011 incident where the appellant was found guilty under IPC Sections 302 and 498A , resulting in a life sentence. The Court referred to the State’s circular dated 9 July 1992 , issued under Section 432 of the CrPC , which mandates that the remission process begin three months before the 14‑year mark. UPSC Relevance This judgment touches upon several core UPSC topics: Criminal Justice System : Understanding remission, premature