Pradipsingh Murlidharsingh Thakur, initially sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife, had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Bombay High Court, which determined the case wasn’t among the “rarest of the rare.” The court later directed the review of his eligibility for remission, despite state opposition based on his police status.
![[Ex-Punjab CM Beant Singh Assassination] "Additional 4 Weeks Granted": SC Directs Centre to Decide on Balwant Singh Rajoana's Mercy Plea](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-39.png?resize=300%2C150&ssl=1)
Today, On 18th November, the Supreme Court directed the President’s secretary to present Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition to President Droupadi Murmu within two weeks. Rajoana, sentenced to death for the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, seeks commutation of his sentence. The case highlights ongoing debates about the death penalty in India.
The Bombay High Court criticized a trial court’s death sentence in a multi-murder case, finding its reasoning, which cited the Mahabharata, “strange” and unwarranted. The High Court emphasized the need for individualized assessments in trials, ultimately commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment for some convicts while acquitting one due to lack of evidence.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (Oct 1) confirmed the death penalty imposed by a Kolhapur court on a man for killing his mother in 2017 and allegedly eating some of the body parts, noting this was a case of cannibalism. The bench said this was a case of cannibalism and it falls under the rarest of rare category. “The case falls under the rarest of rare category. The convict not only murdered his mother but he also removed her body parts – brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine and was cooking them on a pan,” the High Court said.
![[RG Kar Rape and Murder Case] "False Records Created In Police Station": CBI Tells Court](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-35-2.png?resize=447%2C338&ssl=1)
A midnight march titled “Reclaim the Night” is planned in Kolkata to mark the anniversary of a tragic rape-murder case. The event aims to raise awareness and demand justice for victims of gender-based violence. The Supreme Court set the next hearing for the RG Kar case on September 9, amid ongoing nationwide protests. Several protests and calls for justice continue, involving various political and social groups, amid ongoing preparations for the Durga Puja festival.
Yesterday, On 5th September, The Supreme Court proposed guidelines to address delays in carrying out death penalty executions, expressing concern over the distress caused by indefinite delays. A three-judge bench discussed the lack of clear procedures for sessions courts to follow when a death sentence is confirmed but a mercy petition is pending. This highlights the need for clearer guidelines to prevent such delays.
Today, On 3rd September, The ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024’ passed by the West Bengal Assembly introduces the death penalty for rape and murder convictions. It amends existing laws, including the POCSO Act, to ensure stricter punishment and faster trial timelines, with a focus on protecting survivors and victims of all ages.
The West Bengal assembly today unanimously passed the ‘Aparajita’ bill, making it the first state to amend central laws related to rape, gang-rape, and sexual crimes against children. The bill mandates the death penalty for those convicted of rape resulting in death or leaving the victim in a vegetative state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dedicated it to a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered. She emphasized the need for social reforms to prevent such crimes and urged the opposition to ensure the bill’s quick implementation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging for stricter laws and swift justice in crimes against women, following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. She criticized the Ministry for Women’s response as insufficient and emphasized the need for fast-track courts and stringent legislation.
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act with new laws. These bring changes including a 45-day time limit for court rulings, 60-day framing of trial charges, and two-month limit for investigating offenses against women and children. Also introduced: the death penalty for specific offenses and recognition of digital records as trial evidence.