Delhi High Court Finds ‘Element Of Reformation’ In Life Convict, Orders Review Of Plea For Early Release

The Delhi Excessive Court docket on Tuesday put aside a choice of the Sentence Evaluate Board (SRB) of Delhi Prisons denying the request for untimely launch made by Santosh Kumar Singh, convicted within the 1996 rape and homicide case of regulation scholar Priyadarshini Mattoo within the nationwide capital.

Singh is serving life imprisonment within the case.

Justice Sanjeev Narula pronounced the order which was reserved on Could 14.

“The Court docket has discovered components of reformation in him (Singh). I’ve put aside the choice of the SRB determination and have referred the matter again to SRB for recent consideration,” the Court docket mentioned.

The convict had moved the plea in 2023 whereby he challenged the advice of the SRB.

Justice Narula mentioned that the judgment has laid down sure tips to be adopted by the SRB of Delhi Prisons.

The Court docket mentioned that the present framework of SRB doesn’t ponder a proper psychological analysis of a convict by a reliable medical skilled. It added that in such a state of affairs, it’s troublesome for the SRB to take an knowledgeable evaluation as as to if a convict has misplaced the propensity to commit the crime.

The Court docket has mentioned {that a} mechanism should be concerned and psychological evaluation of convicts should be performed earlier than a choice is taken by SRB.

Mattoo, 25 on the date of incident, was raped and murdered at her flat within the nationwide capital in January 1996. Singh, the convict, was a regulation scholar of the Delhi College. He was acquitted by the trial court docket on December 03, 1999 for lack of proof.

Nonetheless, the Delhi Excessive Court docket on October 27, 2006, overruled the choice and held him responsible of rape and homicide of Mattoo. He was awarded loss of life penalty which was challenged by him.

The Supreme Court docket in 2010 upheld Singh’s conviction however commuted his loss of life penalty to life imprisonment.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Mohit Mathur, Senior

Advocate with Mr. Amitabh Narendra, Mr. Amod Singh and Mr. Vignesh, Advocates

Counsel for Respondent: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC with Mr. Arjit Sharma and Mr. Nikunj Bindal, Advocates

Title: SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH v. STATE (GOVT. OF THE NCT) OF DELHI