Couple serving life in prison for murder is paroled to undergo IVF

In a surprising story out of India, a couple who is serving life in prison for murder has been paroled so they can undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to have a baby.

Key Takeaways:

• The couple, Jayendra Damor and Sejal Bariya, have spent 15 years of their life sentences behind bars for murder.

• Now in their late 30s, they want to have a child and have been granted temporary parole to undergo IVF. That parole has been extended at least twice.

• As convicted murderers, it is unclear why a judge would allow them to leave prison to undergo IVF and have a baby.

• IVF has allowed the rights of children to be trampled on in order to ensure adults' wishes for children are fulfilled.

The Details:

Jayendra Damor and Sejal Bariya have spent 15 years in separate prisons for the 2010 murder of Bariya's former boyfriend, Pinakin Patel. But the couple, now in their late 30s, has reportedly been released from prison on parole so that they can undergo IVF to pursue their dream of becoming parents.

They want to have a child despite serving life sentences in prison.

According to the Times of India, Patel had allegedly been harassing Bariya, who then worked with Damor to lure Patel to a guesthouse and kill him. A district court sentenced the couple to life in prison in 2013.

But in 2023, Bariya was granted parole so she could undergo fertility treatments and meet with a gynecologist. Damor then petitioned the court for a similar parole for himself as well as an extension of that parole so that he could undergo testing associated with IVF.

While the parole time is approved on a temporary basis, it appears that judges are continuing to extend the parole times so the couple can undergo fertility treatments.

On October 16, 2025, the high court again granted to parole to Damor following Bariya's release for ongoing IVF treatments. Their releases were again extended on October 28 by Justice H D Suthar.

"Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the present case and for the reasons stated in the application," he said, "the same is partly allowed and the parole leave period granted earlier is extended up to Nov 2, 2025, on the same terms and conditions."

However, the judge added, "No further extension shall be granted."

Why It Matters:

Damor and Bariya are in prison for murder, yet they have been granted permission to leave prison temporarily to pursue the expensive and lengthy process of IVF, in which most of the embryos they create will not be born.

And what happens if Bariya does become pregnant?

• Does her baby spend childhood in prison, away from her father and her freedom?

• Does her mother's desire to have a child trump her right to a peaceful childhood (away from imprisoned violent criminals) with both parents?

• What will her education look like?

• Is it safe for her to be raised by a convicted killer?

• Will she actually be intentionally destroyed because she's a girl and Indian culture is known for having a preference for boys?

• If a boy is born to Damor and Bariya, will he spend his youth in a woman's prison?

• Will their child be raised by a family member instead, having no daily access to his or her parents?

The rise of IVF has been fueled by the false conception that adults should be able to get what they want. If their heart desires a child, for whatever reason, they feel they are entitled to that child.

Parenthood is not a right, but a gift. Children are not an accessory, but individual human beings with their own rights that must be protected.

The Bottom Line:

Just because a person or couple wants to have a baby doesn't mean the rights of the child they will create should be tossed aside so the adults can fulfill their desires.