Yet what may look like failure opens doors to harder conversations, and yes, the law still holds firm on guilt. Still, sentencing reveals tensions between punishment and principle here. 

Still, the panel held firm on the guilty ruling. Though prison time remains locked in, reactions spilled out fast, some were angry, some were relieved, but every was worth noticing.  

February 2, 2026 brought the verdict and right then, eyes turned sharply toward the case, because not only did the fine shift, yet the court exposed gentler motives beneath. Time, learnings and written contests became the Bermuda Triangle that ironically let the convict escape the prison and ease the punishment. 

The view held by Judges Sarang V. Kotwal and Sandesh D. Patil was that this will be a case built on fairness and growth. 

Conviction Stands Sentence Changes 

Finding someone guilty doesn’t automatically shape their penalty, that choice is a whole different concept. The High Court’s ruling keeps these steps apart.

A ruling stood after judges upheld what the special child protection panel had decided earlier. Still, the court changed how long the punishment would last, swapping life behind bars for twelve years of hard labor plus a monetary penalty. It stood by the verdict because yeah, solid proof backed it up, so the guilty ruling stayed unchanged. Only the punishment saw any change at all. 

So, why the Shorter Sentence? 

A fresh look at the circumstances led the Bombay High Court to weigh softer factors alongside chances for change. What tipped the balance was not just past actions but room left to grow. Still, it wasn’t leniency alone that shaped the outcome – reflection played a part too. Through this lens, justice seemed less about penalty, more about potential. In the end, growth mattered as much as wrongdoing.

Youth At The Time Of The Offence

The court placed weight on how young the person found guilty happened to be. At the time of the crime, the person appealing was twenty. The court pointed out that age can soften punishment under legal standards. When appeals happen, being young often matters. It weighed into how things were seen here.

Absence of Prior Criminal Record

Not once before had the person broken any laws, so the judges considered that too. Their past stayed clean, which played a role in how things turned out.

Still, the bench decided, tipping toward a lighter penalty when setting the right consequence.

Time Served in Custody

Time served weighed heavily on outcomes afterwards. Those who’d spent longer inside faced deeper challenges adjusting later. So, duration was the major saviour here. 

Since late 2016, the person appealing has stayed locked up without a break. Even during pandemic times, when some inmates got short-term freedom, he remained locked up inside.

Nowhere else would the time spent behind bars count so directly toward a new term. 

Prison Reform Through Education And Writings

What stands out in the judgment? The court looked closely at records showing change while behind bars. One key point that may have been a major contributor to the court’s decision was that the proof of personal shift during time served shaped the decision. And it is not just abstract in nature, it comes with written evidence of growth that made a difference. 

One paper showed class attendance and another proved time spent learning trades. Some forms listed counselling sessions completed and a few documents confirmed involvement in study groups. One record detailed workshop participation, while others noted progress in skill development. Several sheets reflected effort in personal growth activities. 

A journey through Gandhi’s ideas, guided by Mumbai Sarvoyada Mandal, led to a test cleared by the prisoner. It is not learning by chance, but is shaped through continuous effort, as each idea takes root slowly. Though behind bars, understanding grew, sparked by reflection and the certificate served as a proof that thought can move even locked doors. Finding a spot in the essay contest stood out as proof of active involvement.

A piece of paper issued by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth in Pune shows participation in an organized activity focused on breaking down books. While it is not like a degree, it marks time spent working through texts with guidance. 

One step at a time, progress showed itself in this case through small actions adding up over time inside the prison. Not all changes stood out right away, yet together they painted a picture of change as slow movements and shifts became noticeable when looked at as a whole. 

Even so, the panel noted he deserved a break at sentencing, though they made sure penalties still stayed serious. And still, consequences are telling, and they are telling a harsh story still. Even then, justice needed strength, so balance guided their choice.

Compensation and Fine Kept

Not only did the High Court adjust the jail term, but also upheld the payment to the survivor as required by law. A quarter lakh rupees was kept back as payment, and compensation of ₹25,000 was retained. So yeah, on top of the updated prison sentence came a financial penalty too.

The Laws That Affected Court’s Decision

Sentencing Guided by Flexible Rules

The POCSO Act sets tough penalties for crimes against minors, but judges still hold the final say on how long a sentence should be, so long as it stays within legal boundaries. 

Offset in Criminal Proceedings

That ruling on reducing sentences matches up with Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, where days held before trial or during appeals count toward the total penalty. Though written into law, it only applies once a conviction is confirmed. And yes, not every delay leads to credit, only specific pre-sentence detention qualifies under the rule.

Rehabilitation As A Goal In Punishment

Frequently, Indian courts point out how penalties aren’t just payback, you know, when someone behaves well behind bars, it hints at change being possible. And wasn’t that the highest scope you could imagine for a convict?  Time served subtly might signal growth rather than guilt held close, and judges do take notice of this, not always, yet often enough. 

Not every tough sentence stands as handed down. Earlier as well, judges across India softened penalties when situations bent toward mercy.

Delhi High Court Considers Prisoner Release and Legal Changes 

Remission stays possible even for serious crimes if enough time has passed, the Delhi High Court noted in the Buddha Jayanti Park case. Not every grave act locks out mercy forever, as time spent behind bars makes a difference to the weight of the case. And yes, so does proof of change. The court saw reform as a real factor after years had been served. Even harsh offences may not block release outright, and what counts is how someone grows during long imprisonment.

Now imagine a courtroom where each case bends under its own weight. Heavy crimes do not always bend the scales the same way, and decisions tilt based on what truly happened, not just how bad it sounds. Yes, it is a harsh but telling reality that details shape outcomes more than labels can and even when acts shock everyone, judges still listen to context. That’s their job! Every person, every moment, carries something of significance into the room, and that is exactly why rulings shift like light across stone, never quite the same twice.