By The Law Advice | July 2, 2025
In a significant step toward ensuring a more informed and humane approach to criminal justice, the Delhi High Court has underscored the importance of psychological evaluation in deciding on the premature release of convicts. The Court emphasized that a convict’s mental health and rehabilitation progress should not be judged solely on superficial behavioral reports or routine assessments. Instead, the Court has strongly advocated for the involvement of mental health professionals as part of the decision-making process.
Context: A Shift in the Premature Release Framework
The ruling came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by a convict serving a life sentence, who sought premature release based on eligibility under Delhi’s Sentence Review Board (SRB) guidelines. The Court, while addressing the petition, noted that mere good conduct in prison does not equate to genuine reformation and may fail to reflect deeper psychological concerns or unresolved behavioral risks.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, delivering the judgment, remarked:
“Informed decisions regarding premature release must be rooted in objective, scientific, and psychological assessments that go beyond routine jail conduct reports. These evaluations must be conducted by qualified mental health professionals to ensure that the convict is genuinely reformed and fit to reintegrate into society.”
Need for Institutional Support and Multidisciplinary Input
The Court noted a systemic gap in the current process—where decisions are often based on inputs from jail authorities without expert psychological analysis. It stressed the need to institutionalize the role of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers in assessing reformation and potential risk factors.
The judgment also recognized that mental illness, trauma, substance abuse, or undiagnosed disorders may significantly influence a convict’s behavior, both during incarceration and post-release. Ignoring these dimensions, the Court observed, could lead to either unjust continued incarceration or premature release without proper safeguards.
Reintegration and Public Safety: A Balanced Approach
The High Court highlighted the dual responsibility of the state—to rehabilitate offenders meaningfully and to ensure public safety. It observed that proper psychological assessment can help achieve a balanced outcome, enabling reformed individuals to resume life with dignity while protecting the community from possible risks.
The Court urged the Sentence Review Boards and Jail Authorities to revise their procedures and involve mental health professionals in the evaluation process. It also advised the Delhi Government to take necessary policy measures to incorporate this multidimensional approach in future review mechanisms.
Significance of the Judgment
This decision marks a progressive development in Indian criminal jurisprudence. It aligns with global best practices where mental health is considered a core component of sentencing, incarceration, and parole decisions. The verdict reflects a growing recognition that criminal justice must consider not just the act committed, but also the psychological and social rehabilitation of the offender.
It could potentially set a precedent for other High Courts and State Governments to restructure their premature release protocols, making them more evidence-based and human-centric.
• Case Title: Ram Babu v. State of NCT of Delhi & Ors.
