On 17 September 2025, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the life sentence of Father Edwin Pigarez, a Roman Catholic priest convicted of raping a minor girl.
The bench, consisting of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, granted bail to Pigarez while his appeals against the High Court’s conviction ruling are still pending.
Chief Justice Gavai is already under criticism as he had recently mocked a Hindu petitioner who had sought the restoration of a beheaded 7-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. He had said ““Go and ask the deity itself to do something now… It’s an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc. Sorry.”
In February 2024, the Kerala High Court had upheld the priest’s conviction for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a young girl in his parish. However, the court reduced his sentence, changing the life imprisonment to twenty years of rigorous imprisonment without the possibility of remission.
The Supreme Court referred to sections 376(2)(i) and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, noting that while life imprisonment is an option for the offense, the minimum sentence prescribed is ten years. While suspending Pigarez’s sentence, the Court observed that he has already served almost ten years in prison. The bench highlighted that even if it were to accept the twenty-year sentence imposed by the High Court, Pigarez has already completed half of that term.
In light of this, the Supreme Court decided to suspend the sentence and ordered Pigarez’s release on bail until his appeals are resolved. The Court directed that he be released on bail in connection with Sessions Case No. 203 of 2016, under terms and conditions set by the Trial Court.
(With inputs from Live Law)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
