After 19 years, life convict seeks premature release

Panaji: Ryan Jovito Pinto, a convict in the Mandar Surlakar murder case undergoing a life sentence, approached the High Court seeking premature release. He stated that his conduct was exemplary, and he showed immense potential for reformation and rehabilitation. He sought a second chance at life beyond prison walls.

Advocate Mark Valladares, representing Pinto, submitted to the high court that he completed 19 years of total imprisonment and over 14 years of actual imprisonment. Mandar’s father sought to intervene in the petition in the high court.


Pinto submitted to the court that, in 2020, he was recommended by the State Sentence Review Board for premature release, considering his good conduct in jail as well as during the parole and furlough period, and other factors. However, state govt rejected his case for premature release, relying on the opinion of the Goa Children’s Court.

He challenged the decision before the high court, which in 2022 dismissed his petition on the ground that he had not then completed 14 years of actual imprisonment.

He reapplied to the Sentence Review Board in 2024, but the board did not recommend early release.

In May 2025, the high court set aside the board’s decision and directed it to reconsider his case at its next meeting. The board then recommended his premature release, following which the state govt sought the opinion of the convicting court, the Goa Children’s Court.

The president of the children’s court did not support his release, citing the heinous nature of the offence.

In Dec last year, the high court again set aside the order and directed the state govt to reconsider his case within four weeks.

State govt rejected it again, prompting Pinto to file the present petition.