![[Mon Killings Case] SC Issues Notice to Defence Ministry on Nagaland's Plea to Prosecute 30 Army Personnel](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-2024-07-17T152750.747.png?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
Yesterday, On 16th July, The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, issued a notice to the Defence Ministry in response to Nagaland’s plea to prosecute 30 Army personnel involved in the Mon killings. This comes after the Central government denied prosecution sanction under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The incident, which sparked public outcry, occurred during a flawed military operation in December 2021.
The Orissa High Court commuted the death sentence of Sheikh Asif Ali, convicted for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl, to life imprisonment. The court noted that Asif Ali has been practicing Namaz several times. While acknowledging the heinous nature of the crime, describing it as “horrendous, devilish, and barbaric,” the court emphasized that the case was based on circumstantial evidence and lacked proof of premeditation. Asif Ali, along with Sk Akil Ali, was convicted by the Pocso Court in Jagatsinghpur for the crime committed on November 21, 2022. This decision highlights the complexities involved in adjudicating such serious cases.