SUPREME COURT: Death sentence imposed by Trial Court and confirmed by the High Court converted into life imprisonment.

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SUPREME COURT: Death sentence imposed by Trial Court and confirmed by the High Court converted into life imprisonment.

The Supreme Court in the judgement dated 24.04.2020 in the case of Arvind Singh Versus State of Maharashtra Criminal Appeal Nos. 640-641 OF 2016 directed against the judgement and order passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Nagpur Bench)

on 5th May, 2016 whereby the appeals filed by the appellants against their conviction for offences punishable under Section 364A read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC was dismissed by confirming the death sentence imposed upon them by the learned Sessions Judge, Nagpur.

The Supreme Court while considering all the circumstances and facts on record, opined that the present case falls short of the “rarest of rare” cases where a death sentence alone deserves to be awarded to the appellants. 

The Court said that:- 

"It appears to us in light of all cumulative circumstances that the cause of justice will be effectively served by invoking the concept of special sentencing as evolved by this Court in the cases of Swamy Shraddananda and Sriharan."

 

The Supreme Court Held-

"The death sentence imposed by the learned Trial Court, confirmed by the High Court, is converted into the life imprisonment. It is further observed and directed that the life means till the end of the life with the further observation and direction that there shall not be any remission till the accused completes 25 years of imprisonment."

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