STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH vs RATAN SINGH & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that a sentence of imprisonment for life does not automatically expire after 20 years, as per Section 401 and 402 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The appropriate Government for granting remission is the one where the prisoner was convicted, not the transferee State. The Court ruled that the High Court erred in directing the State of Punjab to release the prisoner, as the discretion to remit lies with the State of Madhya Pradesh, where the conviction occurred. The appeal was allowed, affirming the rejection of the prisoner's application for remission.