Delhi High Court (DHC) reaffirms right to perform last rites as part of dignity under Article 21

Key facts

• Delhi High Court (DHC) held that the right to perform last rites of a parent is an essential religious and moral duty protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
• The Court granted four weeks emergency parole to convict Ajmer Singh alias Pinka in W.P.(CRL) 3146/2025 to attend his father’s Tehravi ceremony scheduled for 26.09.2025.
• Ajmer Singh was convicted under Sections 376/354B/506 IPC and Section 66E of the IT Act, with sentences to run concurrently, and had served about one year nine months fifteen days without prior parole or furlough.
• Rule 1212 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 limits a single parole spell to four weeks and a total of eight weeks per conviction year.
• The Court imposed parole conditions: personal bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety, weekly reporting to SHO PS Kanjhawala, residing at disclosed address, keeping mobile operational, and immediate surrender on expiry.