The Delhi High Court has commuted a man’s death penalty to life imprisonment with no remission for twenty years for kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old child for ransom. The court concluded that the murder was not pre-planned or shocking enough to be categorized as the “rarest of rare cases”. Additionally, the court believed that the convict could be reformed over time.
A bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal delivered the judgment, stating that the appropriate sentence was rigorous imprisonment for life with no remission for twenty years, and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The decision was made based on the belief that justice must be given to both the victim’s family and the accused.
The case dates back to 2013 when the convict, Manoj Shah, kidnapped a 12-year-old child and demanded a ransom of Rs 70 lakh from his parents. He killed the child when his family failed to pay the ransom. He was sentenced to death by a trial court for the crime of kidnapping for ransom and murder.
The case has been widely covered in the media and has sparked a debate on the death penalty and the need for different degrees of punishment. Many have expressed disappointment with the decision, while others believe that the ruling is a step towards reforming the convict and giving him a chance to turn his life around.
The decision offers insights on the importance of the judiciary in reforming convicts, as well as considering the severity of the crime and the convict’s capacity for change. While some believe that the ruling was too lenient, others believe that the sentence is enough to give the convict a chance for reform while still punishing him for his crime.
This decision comes at a time when the debate on capital punishment is raging in India, with many questioning whether the death penalty serves any real purpose in the justice system. The Delhi High Court’s decision provides valuable insight into the complexities of delivering justice that takes into account the severity of the crime and the possibility for reform.
It remains to be seen how the verdict will be received by the public and if it will have any impact on the ongoing debate on capital punishment in India. Regardless, the Delhi High Court’s decision is a reminder of the importance of a fair and just justice system that delivers punishment that is proportionate to the crime committed.
