Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Life term

This refers to the Supreme Court's ruling that life imprisonment is rigorous imprisonment for life — "the whole of the remaining period of the convict's natural life" (Sept. 18). While the ruling may be in tune with the spirit of law, one fears that it subscribes to the conservative school of thought.

The purpose of punishment is also to reform convicts and enable them to lead a good life later in civil society. If people were to spend an entire lifetime in jail, they will not get a chance to correct themselves at all.

C.P. Velayudhan Nair,
Kochi, Kerala

In dismissing a writ petition filed by a life convict challenging his incarceration for more than 21 years, the Court has done the right thing. The judgment has dispelled the generally held belief that a life term is synonymous with imprisonment for 14-20 years.

K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Hassan, Karnataka

A period of about 15 years is more than reasonable for a convict to repent. There are various instances of convicts turning a new leaf after spending 14 years in jail. If the convicts are condemned behind bars for life, they will make no effort to correct their behaviour.

K. Murlidar,
Chennai

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