Life convict gets chance to have a child

An Indian court has freed for two weeks a convicted murderer serving a life term so that he can try to become a father, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Siddique Ali, 40, was freed by the Madras High Court following a plea by his 32-year-old wife so the couple can undergo fertility treatment.

The court order, made last week but only revealed on Thursday, is a rare judgement in India recognising prisoners’ conjugal rights.

The judges said Ali was released under “extraordinary” circumstances for the “purpose of procreation”. They rejected a prosecution contention that the law does not provide for a prisoner to be freed to start a family.

The court order said the wife was “a suffering person” and “her legitimate expectation to have a child cannot be declined.” It added: “Being human beings, prisoners also would like to share their problems with their life partner as well as the society. Just because they are termed as prisoner, their right to dignity can’t be deprived.”

The justices ordered Ali to return to prison on February 3 but said they would consider additional leave if required.

The judgement directed the government to consider allowing conjugal visits for other prisoners.