In a significant judgment, the Delhi High Court has commuted the death penalty of Ariz Khan, a convict in the Batla House encounter case, to life imprisonment.
Ariz Khan was sentenced to death by a trial court for his involvement in the 2008 Batla House encounter in which Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma lost his life. The encounter had sparked widespread debate and controversy, with many questioning its authenticity.
The High Court, while delivering its verdict, stated,
“The role of Ariz Khan in the entire incident cannot be viewed in isolation.”
The court further emphasized the need to consider the
“totality of the circumstances”
while determining the quantum of punishment.
The decision to commute the death penalty comes after a thorough examination of the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial. The court observed,
“It is a well-settled principle that life imprisonment is the rule and the death penalty is the exception.”
Legal experts believe that the High Court’s judgment underscores the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that the death penalty is awarded only in the “rarest of rare” cases, a principle that has been reiterated in numerous judgments over the years.
The Batla House encounter and the subsequent trial have been closely watched by both the media and the public. With the Delhi High Court’s decision to commute Ariz Khan’s death penalty, the case takes another significant turn, adding a new chapter to its long and complex history.
