U.T.CHANDIGARH vs CHARANJIT KAUR — Crl.A. No. 253/1996

The Supreme Court allowed the Union Territory of Chandigarh's appeal, overturning the High Court's order releasing Charanjit Kaur from her life sentence for murder. The Court held that the High Court erred in directing release merely because the State failed to file a counter-affidavit, as only the Government under Section 433 CrPC has authority to commute sentences and release convicts after mandatory minimum period is served. The Court ruled courts can only direct the Government to consider commutation, not directly release prisoners. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.