Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a man convicted of murder, directing him to plant and care for ten trees as part of his release conditions. The order was passed by Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Pushpendra Yadav on September 19, 2025, in the case of Subhas Sharma and Others vs State of M.P.
The convict, who was sentenced to life imprisonment under Sections 302 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, had already served more than ten years in custody. The court noted that two co-accused in the same case had previously been granted bail after serving similar periods. Taking this into account, the court suspended his sentence and allowed his release on a ₹50,000 bond with two solvent sureties.
A unique feature of the ruling is the ecological responsibility attached to the bail. The accused is required to plant fruit-bearing or Neem and Peepal trees and ensure their survival. He must upload photographs of the saplings through the NISARG App, which uses satellite and geo-tagging to monitor compliance.
The judges underlined that the bail was granted on legal merits, while tree plantation was an additional condition. They explained that the measure aims to promote peace and a constructive approach to life by encouraging harmony with nature. The court also warned that bail will be revoked if the convict harasses the complainant or fails to fulfill the plantation requirements.
