ORDER :

1. Leave granted.

2. In pursuance of FIR No. 17/2007 dated 12.01.2007 registered with P.S. Gadhakota, District Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, the appellant herein faced trial for the offence under Section 376(2)(f) of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , 1860 ("IPC").Vide judgment dated 22.08.2008 passed in Sessions Trial Case No. 126/2007, the Sessions Court convicted the appellant herein for the offence committed under Section 376(2)(f) of the IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

3. Aggrieved, the appellant herein assailed the judgment of the Sessions Court before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur in Criminal Appeal No. 2239 of 2008 filed under Section 374(2) of Cr.P.C. However, the High Court vide Impugned Order upheld and affirmed the order of the Sessions Court on both conviction and sentence. Aggrieved by same, the appellant has preferred the present criminal appeal.

4. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the respondent/State, at length.

5. We dispose of this appeal by modifying the sentence imposed on the appellant herein. Both the Sessions Court as well as the High Court have imposed the sentence of life imprisonment on the appellant under Section 376 (2)(f) of the IPC.

6. It is noted that the appellant has already completed nearly eighteen years of incarceration. He is presently 64 years of age.

7. Having regard to these facts, we find that the ends of justice would be met if the appellant is directed to be released on completion of twenty years of imprisonment.

8. Accordingly, the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court, which has been sustained by the High Court stands modified.

9. The appeal is allowed in part in the aforesaid terms.

10. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.