In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside the Sentence Review Board’s (SRB) order denying premature release to life convict Santosh Kumar Singh, and directed the Board to reconsider his plea afresh.
Singh, the son of a former Inspector General of Police, is serving a life sentence for the 1996 rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo, a case that had sparked nationwide outrage due to its gruesome nature and initial acquittal.
High Court Observes Signs Of Reform
While pronouncing the judgment, Justice Sanjeev Narula noted, “I have seen some reformation in the petitioner,” and held that the SRB’s earlier recommendation lacked adequate consideration. The judge remanded the matter back to the Board with specific directions for reevaluation.
The High Court’s intervention came on a plea filed by Singh in 2023, challenging the SRB’s decision to reject his application for early release.
Timeline Of The Case
January 16, 1996: Priyadarshini Mattoo, a 25-year-old law student, was found raped and murdered at her residence.
1999: Singh was acquitted by the trial court, leading to widespread public outcry.
2000: The prosecution filed an appeal against the acquittal.
October 30, 2006: The Delhi High Court overturned the acquittal and sentenced Singh to death, citing the brutality of the crime.
October 2010: The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, considering mitigating circumstances.
Premature Release & SRB’s Role
Santosh Kumar Singh has now spent over two decades behind bars. His plea for premature release was placed before the Sentence Review Board, which reviews requests from life convicts based on factors like conduct in jail, reformation, and threat to society.
However, the SRB rejected Singh’s application without, as the court observed, sufficiently evaluating the progress in his behavior and rehabilitation.
Justice Narula stressed that such cases, while sensitive, must still adhere to principles of fairness, reformation, and legal procedure, and directed the SRB to reconsider Singh’s case on its merits.
Next Steps
The Sentence Review Board is now tasked with re-evaluating Santosh Singh’s application, factoring in his conduct during incarceration and any evidence of reformation. The High Court has laid down directions to ensure a more detailed and balanced assessment.
This ruling does not guarantee Singh’s release but provides him with another opportunity to be considered for it, in line with constitutional guarantees and the correctional philosophy embedded in India’s criminal justice system.
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