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Saturday, 23 November 2013

रेप-छेड़छाड़ पर ये हैं कानून और गाइडलाइंस


हाल ही में गोवा में एक महिला पत्रकार ने सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट का आरोप लगाया जिसके बाद पुलिस ने इस मामले में संज्ञान लेते हुए आरोपी के खिलाफ रेप का केस दर्ज कर लिया है। वर्क प्लेस पर सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट का मामला हो या फिर कहीं और, ऐसे मामलों में क्या कहता है कानून, यह जानना जरूरी है। साथ ही नए ऐंटि रेप लॉ में क्या कानूनी प्रावधान किए गए हैं, इस बारे में विस्तार से जानना जरूरी है।

हाई कोर्ट के सरकारी वकील नवीन शर्मा बताते हैं कि जो भी मामला संज्ञेय है, उसमें पुलिस पीड़िता की शिकायत पर या फिर खुद संज्ञान लेकर केस दर्ज कर सकती है। लेकिन लड़की का बयान ऐसे मामले में महत्वपूर्ण साक्ष्य होता है।

1997 में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने विशाखा जजमेंट के तहत गाइडलाइंस बनाई थी। इस मामले में महिला ने एक पीआईएल दाखिल की थी और वर्क प्लेस पर होने वाले सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट को रोकने के लिए प्रावधान किए जाने की गुहार लगाई थी। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने इस मामले में गाइडलाइंस बनाई थी, जो तमाम दफ्तरों में लागू है। इसके तहत एंप्लॉयर की जिम्मेदारी है कि वह गुनहगार के खिलाफ कार्रवाई करे। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 12 गाइडलाइंस बनाई हैं जिनके तहत अनुशासनात्मक से लेकर क्रिमिनल कार्रवाई किए जाने की बात कही गई है।



-एंप्लॉयर या अन्य जिम्मेदार अधिकारी की ड्यूटी है कि वह सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट को रोके।

-सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट के दायरे में शारीरिक छेड़छाड़, शारीरिक टच करना, सेक्सुअल फेवर की डिमांड या आग्रह करना, महिला सहकर्मी को पॉर्न दिखाना, अन्य तरह से आपत्तिजनक व्यवहार करना या फिर इशारा करना आता है।

-इन मामलों के अलावा अगर कोई ऐसा ऐक्ट जो आईपीसी के तहत ऑफेंस है तो एंप्लॉयर की ड्यूटी है कि वह इस मामले में कार्रवाई करते हुए संबंधित अथॉरिटी को शिकायत करे।

-इस बात को सुनिश्चित किया जाएगा कि विक्टिम अपने दफ्तर में किसी भी तरह से पीड़ित-शोषित नहीं होगी।

-इस तरह की कोई भी हरकत दुर्व्यवहार के दायरे में होगा और इसके लिए अनुशासनात्मक कार्रवाई का प्रावधान है।

-प्रत्येक दफ्तर में एक कंप्लेंट कमिटी होगी जिसकी चीफ महिला होगी और यह सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि कमिटी में महिलाओं की संख्या आधे से कम न हो। साथ ही साल भर में आई शिकायतों और कार्रवाई के बारे में सरकार को रिपोर्ट करना होगा।

-मौजूदा समय में वर्क प्लेस पर सेक्शुअल हरैसमेंट रोकने के लिए विशाखा जजमेंट के तहत ही कार्रवाई होती है। इस बाबत कोई कानून नहीं है, इस कारण गाइडलाइंस प्रभावी है।

-अगर कोई ऐसी हरकत जो आईपीसी के तहत अपराध है, तो उस मामले में शिकायत के बाद केस दर्ज किया जाता है। कानून का उल्लंघन करने वालों के खिलाफ आईपीसी की संबंधित धाराओं के तहत कार्रवाई होती है। साथ ही उनके खिलाफ अनुशासनात्मक कार्रवाई भी की जाती है।

16 दिसंबर की गैंग रेप की घटना के बाद सरकार ने वर्मा कमिशन की सिफारिश पर ऐंटि रेप लॉ बनाया गया है। इसके तहत जो कानूनी प्रावधान किए गए हैं, उसमें रेप की परिभाषा में बदलाव किया गया है। सीनियर ऐडवोकेट रमेश गुप्ता के मुताबिक, आईपीसी की धारा-375 के तहत रेप के दायरे में प्राइवेट पार्ट या फिर ओरल सेक्स दोनों को ही रेप माना गया है। साथ ही प्राइवेट पार्ट के पेनिट्रेशन के अलावा किसी चीज के पेनिट्रेशन को भी इस दायरे में रखा गया है।

-अगर कोई शख्स किसी महिला के प्राइवेट पार्ट या फिर अन्य तरीके से पेनिट्रेशन करता है तो वह रेप होगा।

-अगर कोई शख्स महिला के प्राइवेट पार्ट में अपने शरीर का अंग या फिर अन्य चीज डालता है तो वह रेप होगा।

-बलात्कार के वैसे मामले जिसमें पीड़िता की मौत हो जाए या कोमा में चली जाए, तो फांसी की सजा का प्रावधान किया गया।

-रेप में कम से कम 7 साल और ज्यादा से ज्यादा उम्रकैद की सजा का प्रावधान किया गया है।

-नए कानून के तहत छेड़छाड़ के मामलों को नए सिरे से परिभाषित किया गया है। इसके तहत आईपीसी की धारा-354 को कई सब सेक्शन में रखा गया है।

-354 ए के तहत प्रावधान है कि सेक्सुअल नेचर का कॉन्टैक्ट करना, सेक्सुअल फेवर मांगना आदि छेड़छाड़ के दायरे में आएगा। इसमें दोषी पाए जाने पर अधिकतम 3 साल तक कैद की सजा का प्रावधान है।

-अगर कोई शख्स किसी महिला पर सेक्सुअल कॉमेंट करता है तो एक साल तक कैद की सजा का प्रावधान है।

-354 बी के तहत अगर कोई शख्स महिला की इज्जत के साथ खेलने के लिए जबर्दस्ती करता है या फिर उसके कपड़े उतारता है या इसके लिए मजबूर करता है तो 3 साल से लेकर 7 साल तक कैद की सजा का प्रावधान है।

-354 सी के तहत प्रावधान है कि अगर कोई शख्स किसी महिला के प्राइवेट ऐक्ट की तस्वीर लेता है और उसे लोगों में फैलाता है तो ऐसे मामले में एक साल से 3 साल तक की सजा का प्रावधान है। अगर दोबारा ऐसी हरकत करता है तो 3 साल से 7 साल तक कैद की सजा का प्रावधान है।

-354 डी के तहत प्रावधान है कि अगर कोई शख्स किसी महिला का जबरन पीछा करता है या कॉन्टैक्ट करने की कोशिश करता है तो ऐसे मामले में दोषी पाए जाने पर 3 साल तक कैद की सजा का प्रावधान है।

-जो भी मामले संज्ञेय अपराध यानी जिन मामलों में 3 साल से ज्यादा सजा का प्रावधान है, उन मामलों में शिकायती के बयान के आधार पर या फिर पुलिस खुद संज्ञान लेकर केस दर्ज कर सकती है।

-जो मामले असंज्ञेय अपराध की श्रेणी में आते हैं, उसमें पीड़िता अदालत में कंप्लेंट केस दाखिल कर सकती है जिसके बाद अदालत साक्ष्यों के आधार पर आरोपी को समन जारी करता है और फिर केस चलता है।

Friday, 22 November 2013

INCOME TAX AMENDMENTS TO FILE RETURN FOR A/Y 2013-14




INCOME TAX AMENDMENTS TO FILE RETURN FOR A/Y 2013-14

It is well known fact that tax payers are now required to file their Income-tax Return for the Financial Year 2012-13 relevant to the Assessment Year 2013-14. These Income-tax Returns in most cases have to be filed by 31st July, 2013. However, for the Corporate Sector as well as for persons who are having the requirement of tax audit the last date of filing Income-tax Return happens to be 30th September 2013. The Central Board of Direct Taxes recently has amended certain provisions of the Income-tax Rules concerning filing of the Income-tax Return. Some of the points mentioned in this new amendment are really very very important for practical filing of the Income-tax Return by the tax payers for the Assessment Year 2013-14. Hence, in this article an attempt is being made to highlight all those important points which are required to be kept in mind while filing the Income-tax Return for the Assessment Year 2013-14. The Income-tax (3rd Amendment) Rules, 2013 which have been issued vide Notification No. 34/2013 dated 1.5.2013 provides for amendments in Rule 12 of Income-tax Rules, 1962 and also through these rules certain Income-tax Return Forms have been substituted. The substituted Return Forms are SAHAJ ITR 1, ITR 2, ITR3, SUGAM ITR 4S, ITR 4 and ITR V. Please use the new Income tax Return forms while filing Income-tax Return for the A.Y. 2013-2014.   The following are some of the important amendments which have been made in the Income-tax Rules with reference to filing of Income-tax Return for the Assessment Year 2013-2014:- 1. Until last year the Income-tax Return in Form No. SAHAJ-ITR1 was permitted to be filled up by all individuals having salary income as also income from house property and income from other sources except income from lottery or from horse races. However, as a result of the new amendment the individual if he has got any loss under the head Income from Other Sources, then such person will not be able to file Income-tax Return in Form No. SAHAJ(ITR1). It is specifically mentioned in the new amendment that persons taking advantage of filing Income-tax Return in the SAHAJ Form should not have any loss under the head Income from Other Sources.    2. The new amendment makes it very clear that the provisions relating to filing of Income-tax Return by the individuals in Form SAHAJ (ITR1) shall not be applicable to a person who is resident, other than not ordinarily resident in India specially if such person has assets (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India or such person has signing authority in any account located outside India. 3. The SAHAJ Income-tax Return form also cannot be used by an individual claiming any double taxation tax relief under sections 90 or 90 A or 91 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. 4. It is provided in the new amendment that Income-tax Return for the A.Y. 2013-2014 also cannot be filed in form No. SAHAJ by all individuals having income not chargeable to tax exceeding Rs. 5,000/-. 5. It is well known fact that tax payers are not required to enclose any papers or documents with their Income-tax Return. However, the new amendment provides that where the assessee is required to furnish a report of Audit as per section 115AB or 92E or 115JB of the Income-tax Act, 1961, then such audit report shall be furnished electronically with the Income-tax Return. 6. Last year individuals and Hindu Undivided Families having total income in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs were required to furnish the Income-tax Return electronically under Digital Signature or transmitting the data in the Return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the Return in Form  ITR V. Now as a result of the amendment not merely individuals or Hindu Undivided Families but all persons other than companies and persons filing Form No. 7 (like Educational Institutions, Trusts etc.) if their income exceeds Rs. 5 lakhs would be required to furnish the Return for the Assessment Year 2013-14 electronically under Digital Signature or transmitting the data in the Return electronically and thereafter submitting ITR V. This is really very very important new amendment whereby it is now compulsory for persons having income in excess of Rs. 5 lakhs for the Assessment Year 2013-14 to file their Income-tax Return in the Electronic Form. However, the charitable trusts and educational institutions etc. who are required to file their Income-tax Return in Form No 7 will not be compulsorily required to file the Return electronically irrespective of their income.   7. All those tax payers who are claiming relief of tax in terms of section 90 or 90A or 91 of the Income-tax Act and are filing their Income-tax Return for the AY 2013-14 and subsequent years will now be required to furnish their Income-tax Return electronically under Digital Signature or transmitting the data in the Return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the Return in Form ITR V. It may be clarified here that the impact of this new amendment will be with reference to all such persons who are taking benefit of relief in respect of income-tax paid or deducted in foreign country or specified territories. This means all those tax payers who are taking advantage of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements or any other agreements which have been executed by the Central Government with specified associations for double taxation relief as well as persons who are taking advantage of Double Taxation Relief with countries where there is no agreement, all such persons will now be required to file their Income-tax Return electronically under Digital Signature and they can also submit the Return electronically and thereafter submit the verification of the Return in Form ITR V. 8. Tax payers are aware that since last year Form No. SUGAM (ITR 4S) was provided for filing Income-tax Return by the persons who are taking advantage of computing their income in terms of section 44AD or section 44AE of the Income-tax Act for computation of their business income based on a percentage of the profit. It may be noted that this return form be used only when the turnover of the business is less than Rs. 1 crore. The new amendment to Rule 12 of Income-tax Rules now provides that the provisions relating to filing of Income-tax Return in Form SUGAM (ITR 4S) will not apply to a person who is a resident, other than not ordinary resident in India and has any assets (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India or has a signing authority in any account located outside India. Likewise, the SUGAM (ITR 4 S) cannot be used by individual claiming Double Taxation Relief. Finally, the SUGAM (ITR 4 S) cannot be filed by persons having income not chargeable to tax exceeding Rs. 5,000 and such persons should file return in Form No. 4. 9. The most important amendment with reference to filing Income-tax Return is with reference to a new "Schedule AL" which is introduced in ITR 3 & ITR 4. This schedule contains details of Assets & liabilities of an individual or HUF. This schedule is to be filled up when the income of the individual or HUF exceeds Rs. 25 lakhs. Conclusion: The tax payers in particular who are having income in excess of Rs. 5 lakhs for the Assessment Year 2013-14 in particular to carefully understand the new provisions relating to filing of the Income-tax Return Form whereby it has been now compulsory for them to file their Income-tax Return electronically. Likewise persons who are having tax audit should also not forget to submit the audit report with the Income-tax Return electronically. The Income tax Return forms which are required to be filled in for the AY 2013-14 are basically almost at par with the Income-tax Return Form as was being used in the previous years. All assets abroad and all incomes abroad are required to be mentioned in the Income-tax Return. It may be noted that the impact of amendments in Rule 12 of the Income-tax Act would now mean that if an individual is having exempted income in excess of Rs. 5,000, in that situation such individual will not be able to file the Income-tax Return SAHAJ (ITR 1). For example let us say a salaried employee has got income from salary income and some bank interest income. But if he has got dividend income of Rs. 10,000, in that situation he will not be able to file the Income-tax Return in Form SAHAJ (ITR1) because the new amendment specifically mentions that the Return Form SAHAJ cannot be used by an individual having income not chargeable to tax exceeding Rs. 5,000. Such persons have to file the Return in Form No. 2. Similarly an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family carrying on business having turnover less than Rs. 1 crore and normally required to file the Return in Form SUGAM (ITR4S) will not be able to file the Return in the said SUGAM Form for the AY 2013-14 if he were to have exempted income say like dividend, interest income or income from Mutual Fund or income from Tax Free Bond exceeding the sum of Rs. 5,000. Hence, all individuals and Hindu Undivided Families in particular carrying on business and computing income on presumptive basis and also having income not chargeable to tax exceeding the sum of Rs. 5,000, cannot use the Income-tax Return Form SUGAM and will, therefore, be required to file the Return in Form No. 4. Persons filing ITR 3 & ITR 4 and having income in excess of Rs. 25 lakhs should carefully fill up "Schedule AL" to give details of assets & liabilities. Please take care of the above mentioned important new amendments to the Income-tax Rules relating to filing of Income-tax Return and thereafter file your Income-tax Return correctly in the correct applicable form depending upon your facts and circumstances and also do not forget to file the Income-tax Return in the specific mode which is required in terms of the provisions contained in the Income-tax Law.


India's top 10 lawyers

SK.MOZAHED HOSSAIN Jan 9, 2010, 10.16am IST
Drawing up any kind of list is fraught with danger, especially a list of the country's ten top lawyers! We will almost certainly be accused of acts of omission and commission. On our part, we've tried to be as thorough as possible — asking senior and junior lawyers and retired judges for their opinion; examining the track record of short-listed candidates; comparing their knowledge, acumen and court craft with that of others. How good are they at retrieving seemingly impossible situations? Can they persuade a judge to appreciate a point of view that is diametrically opposite his initial understanding? What role have they played in the seminal cases of our time? How have they shaped the opinion of government, the judiciary, the public? In our final list, we left out those who currently hold positions in government, such as attorney general Goolam Vahanvati and solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam. We also didn't consider Kapil Sibal and Arun Jaitley, because as HRD minister and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, respectively, they don't practise anymore. In the end, we based our judgement primarily on what we saw and heard, first hand, in the courts...
NARIMAN'S POINT, COUNTERPOINT
He is the wise man of the Bar. Nariman's stature allows him to be blunt in court. He lets his displeasure be known when a judge fails to understand a point — "No, no, that's not what I mean."
Nariman, 81, has aged beautifully. His voice has turned metallic over the years, but it still booms in the biggest courtroom of all — the chief justice of India's , with its 40-feet high ceiling.
Nariman regularly loses his cool with assistants who try and come to his rescue while a judge is in the middle of asking him a question. "Listen to the judge first, I say," he tells them testily. He can also be impatient, especially with juniors who take too long to source a citation to buttress his arguments — "Quick, quick, what are you doing."
Nariman started life as a lawyer in 1951, under the legendary Jamsetjee Kanga, and was enriched by his senior's endless tales of real-life courtroom drama. He also imbibed his senior's motto: "Work is worship." (Nariman is proud of the fact that India's first chief justice Harilal Kania was also a product of Kanga's chamber.)
The case that got him into the real big league came 30 years into his career, in 1981. This was the Needle Industry Company Case which related to intricate questions in company law. Nariman's client had lost in the high court to the arguments of the famous H M Seerbhai. Nariman defended him with great technical brilliance before the Supreme Court, which finally ruled in favour of Nariman's client.
Even as he climbed the "greasy poles of success" , as he puts it, he has often found himself drawn to hopeless cases. Maybe, it's because he believes in the saying: "The important thing is not winning, but taking part; the important thing in life is not conquering, but fighting."
He charges Rs 2.5-3 lakh for a five minute argument on admission day, while a day-long hearing could see him earn upwards of Rs 25 lakh. But he does many cases for free, too. As for what he does with his money, his response is blunt: "That's nobody's business but mine." He's known to give a lot of money to charity (apart from his pro bono work), but won't disclose details.
Nariman's formula for success: "75 per cent hard work, 25 per cent court craft". His advice to younger lawyers? "Be humble before the court and do not suppress a fact even if it's against you."
SUPREME SOLI-LOQUIST
Sorabjee loves to be referred to as the former attorney general, for it brought him great glory. As AG, he successfully defended India against Pakistan in the Atlantique downing case in an international court. The Atlantique incident involved the Indian Air Force shooting down a Pakistan Navy plane, Breguet Atlantique, carrying 16 people on board, citing violation of airspace. The incident took place in the Rann of Kutch on August 10, 1999, just a month after the Kargil war, creating a tense atmosphere between India and Pakistan. Thanks to Sorabjee, the court exonerated India and the political situation regained a measure of normalcy.

Direct taxes and indirect taxes

Direct Taxes are the taxes that are levied on the income of individuals or organisations. Income tax, corporate tax, inheritance tax are some instances of direct taxation. Income tax is the tax levied on individual income from various sources like salaries, investments, interest etc. Corporate tax is the tax paid by companies or firms on the incomes they earn.


 Indirect taxes are those paid by consumers when they buy goods and services. These include excise and customs duties. Customs duty is the charge levied when goods are imported into the country, and is paid by the importer or exporter. Excise duty is a levy paid by the manufacturer on items manufactured within the country. Usually, these charges are passed on to the consumer. - See more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/advertising/defined-directindirect-taxes_

Service Tax notification 45/2012


[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i)]
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue)

Notification No. 45/2012 - Service Tax

New Delhi, the 7th August, 2012

G.S.R. (E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 68 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following amendment in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No.30/2012-Service Tax, dated the 20th June,2012,  published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i),  vide number  G.S.R.  472 (E), dated the 20th June, 2012, namely:-

In the said notification,-

(a)  in para I, in clause (A),-

(iafter the sub-clause (iv), the following sub-clause shall be inserted, namely :-

“(iva)   provided or agreed to be provided  by a director of a company to the said company;”;

(ii)  in sub-clause (v), after the words “manpower for any purpose”, the words “ or security services” shall be inserted.

(b)  in para II, in the Table,-

(i  after Sl.No5, the following S.No. and entries shall be inserted, namely:-
           
“5A
in respect of  services  provided or agreed to be provided  by a director of a company to the said company
Nil
100%”

(ii)  in Sl.No. 8, in the entries under the heading ‘Description of a service’, after the words “manpower for any purpose”, the words “or security services” shall be inserted.

[F.No. 334 /1/ 2012-TRU]

(Rajkumar Digvijay)
Under Secretary to the Government of India 


Note.- The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide notification No. 30/2012 - Service Taxdated 20th June, 2012, vide number G.S.R. 472 (E), dated the 20th June, 2012 and the same has not been amended so far.

Latest Judgement on sales tax and VAT by honorable Supreme court

Rahmat Beevi vs Assistant Commissioner-II, Commercial Taxes, Special Circle, Asramom, Kollam  [KERALA HIGH COURT, 30 Oct 2013]

T. V. l. Vitan Departmental Stores and Industries Limited, Chennai vs State of Tamil Nadu, represented by the Joint Commissioner (CT), Chennai East Division, Chennai [MADRAS HIGH COURT, 29 Oct 2013]

Chapala Mohanty W/o Dipak Kumar Mohanty vs Additional D.G. of Police-cum-I.G. of Prisons & DCS, Odisha  [ORISSA HIGH COURT, 10 Oct 2013]

(1) Tata Motors Finance Limited; (2) ICICI Bank Limited; (3) Family Credit Limited and another vs (1) Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax, Central Section, Investigation Wing, Kolkata; (2) Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax, Central Section Wing and others; (3) Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax Salt Lake Charge and others  [CALCUTTA HIGH COURT, 08 Oct 2013]

ACC Limited vs (1) State of Jharkhand; (2) Director of Industries, Department of Industries,Jharkhand, Ranchi; (3) Secretary, Department of Industries,Jharkhand, Ranchi; (4) Secretary, Commercial Taxes, Department of Revenues, Jharkhand, Ranchi  [JHARKHAND HIGH COURT, 01 Oct 2013]

Larsen and Toubro Limited and another vs State of Karnataka and another  [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA, 26 Sep 2013]
(A) Sales Tax - Indirect Tax - Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957 - Constitution of India, 1950, art. 366(29-A)(b) - Development agreement - Works contract - Meaning and scope - Appellant developer entered into development agreement with landowner - Appellant entered into agreement of sale with prospective purchasers - Sale deeds were executed in favour of them - Respondent department served show-cause notice for assessment by relying upon SC decision in K. Raheja Development Corporation v. State of Karnataka, 2005 Indlaw SC 350 - Later, respondent passed provisional assessment order and sent demand notice - Appellant challenged demand before HC - HC dismissed challenge - Appellant filed appeal before SC - Two Judge bench referred matter to larger Bench - Hence, instant reference - Whether development agreement could be categorized as work contract - Held, where a contract comprised of both a works contract and a transfer of immovable property, such contract did not denude it of its character as works contract - Term 'works contract' in art. 366 (29- A)(b) of Constitution took within its fold all genre of works contract - Building contracts were species of works contract - A contract would involve both a contract of work and labor and a contract for sale - In such composite contract, distinction between contract for sale of goods and contract for work (or service) was virtually diminished - Thus, development agreement could be a work contract - Reference answered.(B) Sales Tax - Indirect Tax - Constitution - Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957 - Sale of Goods Act, 1930 - Constitution of India, 1950, art. 366(29-A)(b) - Constitution (Forty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 1982 - Development agreement - Taxability - Whether development agreement in question was liable to be taxed - Held, for sustaining levy of tax on goods deemed to have been sold in execution of a works contract, three conditions should be fulfilled: (i) there should be a works contract, (ii) goods should have been involved in execution of a works contract; and (iii) property in those goods should be transferred to a third party either as goods or in some other form - For the purposes of art. 366(29-A)(b) of Constitution, in a building contract or any contract to do construction, if developer received or was entitled to receive valuable consideration, the said three conditions should fully met - Even if dominant intention of contract was not to transfer property in goods and rather it was rendering of service or ultimate transaction was transfer of immovable property, then also it was open to States to levy sales tax on materials used in such contract if such contract otherwise had elements of works contract - Further, a transfer of property in goods u/art. 366 29-A(b) of Constitution was deemed to be a sale of goods involved in execution of a works contract by person making transfer and purchase of those goods by person to whom such transfer was made - Even in a single and indivisible works contract, by virtue of legal fiction introduced by art.366(29-A)(b) of Constitution, there was a deemed sale of goods in execution of works contract - Such a deemed sale had all incidents of sale of goods involved in execution of a works contract where contract was divisible into one for sale of goods and other for supply of labour and services - Single and indivisible contract, then by Forty-sixth Amendment had been brought on par with a contract containing two separate agreements and States had then power to levy sales tax on value of material in execution of works contract - Expression 'tax on the sale or purchase of goods' in Entry 54 in List II of Seventh Schedule when r/w definition cl. 29-A of art. 366 included a tax on transfer of property in goods whether as goods or in the form other than goods involved in execution of works contract - Art. 366(29-A)(b) served to bring transactions where essential ingredients of 'sale' defined in the 1930 Act were absent within the ambit of sale or purchase for the purposes of levy of sales tax - Taxing sale of goods element in a works contract u/art. 366(29-A)(b) r/w Entry 54 List II was permissible even after incorporation of goods provided tax was directed to value of goods and did not purport to tax transfer of immovable property - Value of goods which could constitute measure for levy of tax would be value of goods at the time of incorporation of goods in works even though property passed as between developer and flat purchaser after incorporation of goods - Hence, development agreement in instant case was a work contract and thereby liable to be taxed - Reference answered.
(C) Sales Tax - Indirect Tax - Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957 - Constitution of India, 1950, art. 366(29-A)(b) - Dictum laid down in Raheja Development case - Degree of correctness - Whether view taken in Raheja Development case with reference to definition of 'works contract' in the Act was legally justified - Held, in art. 366(29-A)(b) of Constitution, term 'works contract' covered all genre of works contract and it was not limited to one specie of contract - In Raheja Development case, definition of 'works contract' in the Act was under consideration - That definition of 'works contract' was inclusive and referred to building contracts and diverse construction activities for monetary consideration - Thus view taken by two Judge Bench of SC in Raheja Development case was justifiable - However, activity of construction undertaken by developer would be works contract only from the stage developer entered into a contract with flat purchaser - Value addition made to goods transferred after agreement was entered into with flat purchaser could only be made chargeable to tax by State Govt. - Further, almost all States modified their laws in line with Raheja Development case and there was no justification for change in position settled - Thus, Raheja Development case laid down correct legal position and hence approved - Reference answered.
(D) Sales Tax - VAT - Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002, s. 2(24) - Explanation (b)(ii) to s. 2(24) of the Act - Constitutionality - Whether explanation (b)(ii) to s. 2(24) of the Act, which was brought by amendment with effect from 20-6-2006, was Constitutionally valid - Held, amendment in explanation b(ii) to s. 2(24) was brought because of SC judgment in Raheja Development case - Raheja Development case laid down correct legal position - Thus, there was no merit in challenge to Constitutional validity to the provisions of explanation (b)(ii) to s. 2(24) of the Act, which were amended with effect from 20-6-2006 - HC took the view that provision under challenge was not in breach of any Constitutional boundaries - View of HC was agreed with and challenge to amendment to the provisions of explanation (b)(ii) to s. 2(24) of the Act was rejected - Reference answered.
(E) Sales Tax - VAT - Maharashtra Value Added Tax Rules, 2005, r. 58(1A) - Constitutionality of r. 58(1A) of the Rules - Whether r. 58(1A) of the Rules, which was inserted by a notification dt. 1-6-2009 was Constitutionally valid - Held, taxing sale of goods element in a works contract was permissible even after incorporation of goods provided tax was directed to value of goods at the time of incorporation and did not purport to tax the transfer of immovable property - Mode of valuation of goods provided in r. 58(1A) should be read in the manner that meets this criteria - However, State Govt. should bring further clarity in r.58 (1-A) of the Rules - Thus, subject to this, validity of r. 58(1-A) of the Rules was sustained - Reference answered.


Commercial Taxes Officer, Works Contract and Leasing Tax, Udaipur vs Jai Baba Construction Company, Udaipur  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 26 Sep 2013]

Nu-Tech Solvex vs State of Haryana and others  [PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT, 18 Sep 2013]

(1) Vidarbha Winding Wires Limited, Nagpur; (2) Rohit S/o Motilal Agrawal; (3) Chandrapur Vidyut Conductors Private Limited; (4) Kailash Poly Industries Private Limited; (5) Manoj S/o Shankarlal Mantri vs (1) State of Maharashtra, through Secretary, Finance Department, Mantralaya, Bombay; (2) State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary, Department of Industries, Energy and Labour, Mantralaya, Bombay; (3) Commissioner of Sales Tax, Maharashtra State, Bombay; (4) Deputy Commissioner of Sales Tax, Nagpur Division, Sales Tax Office, Nagpur; (5) Development Corporation of Vidarbha Limited, through its Managing Director, Sitabuldi, Nagpur  [BOMBAY HIGH COURT, 17 Sep 2013]

Jain Heights and Structures Private Limited, represented by its Managing Director, Kishore Kumar, Bangalore vs (1) State of Karnataka, represented by its Finance Secretary, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore; (2) Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Bangalore; (3) Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Bangalore  [KARNATAKA HIGH COURT, 13 Sep 2013]

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer vs Parekh Enterprises  [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA, 13 Sep 2013]

Commissioner, Commercial Tax vs Hotel Agra Ashok  [ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT, 10 Sep 2013]

Reliance Infrastructure Limited and another vs Dy. Commissioner Sales Tax and another  [CALCUTTA HIGH COURT, 09 Sep 2013]

Gaurav Trading Company vs Assistant Commercial Tax Officer  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 04 Sep 2013]

ACTO (FS) Sriganagar vs Bunge India Private Limited  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 02 Sep 2013]

(1) Assistant Commissioner, Special Circle, Bikaner; (2) ACTO, Circle-A, Ward 4, Bikaner vs (1) Somani Mills, Bikaner; (2) Bikaner Woolen Mills Limited; (3) Gayatri Udhyog [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 29 Aug 2013]

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer, Ward-II, Sikar vs Bholaram Ramgopal, Laxmangarh  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 27 Aug 2013]

Assistant Commissioner, Anti Evasion, Commercial Taxes Department-III, Jaipur vs Rajasthan Textile Mills Pachpahar Road, Bhawani Mandi, Jhalawar  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 27 Aug 2013]

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer, Ward-II, Bayana, Circle-B, Bharatpur vs Kamal Enterprises, Bayana, Bharatpur  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 26 Aug 2013]

State of Tamil Nadu Represented by the Deputy Commissioner (Commercial Taxes), Salem vs T. V. L. S. S. M. Processing Mills, Komarapalayam  [MADRAS HIGH COURT, 23 Aug 2013]

T. V. L. Periakaramalai Tea and Products Company Limited, Coimbatore vs State of Tamil Nadu Represented by the Commercial Tax Officer, Coimbatore  [MADRAS HIGH COURT, 23 Aug 2013]

T. V. L. Periakaramalai Tea and Products Company Limited, Coimbatore vs State of Tamil Nadu Represented by the Commercial Tax Officer, Coimbatore  [MADRAS HIGH COURT, 23 Aug 2013]

Assistant Commercial Taxes Officer, Ward II, Circle-B, Bhilwara vs Sarita Water Tank System, Subhash Nagar, Bhilwara  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 23 Aug 2013]

Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) and another vs Jagdish Prasad Soni  [RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT, 22 Aug 2013]

Venkataramana Food Specialities Limited, Chennai vs State of Tamil Nadu Represented by the Deputy Commissioner (CT) Now designated as Joint Commissioner (CT) Chennai (Central) Division, Chennai  [MADRAS HIGH COURT, 22 Aug 2013]

Legal Notes on Important decisions by the Hon’ble High Court/ Supreme Court.



Legal Notes on Important decisions by the
Hon’ble High Court/ Supreme Court.
Sl. No. Issue/Subject
Matter
Reported Court Decisions

Levying tax on TIN
dealers at check gates
Satyam Construction Vrs. STO 2008 (17VST 42(O).
“It has been observed that the VAT is being collected in
different Unified check gates from registered dealers granted with
TIN. Earlier, the Hon’ble High Court in case of Mahamad Habib
Ummar Vs. Sales Tax Officer 99 STC 16(O) and in case of Vinayak
Store Vs. STO 86 STC at page 43 had deprecated the practice of
collection of taxes from the registered dealers at the check gates who
are entitled to file return in their respective sales tax circles. The
Hon’ble Orissa High Court in recent decision in case of Satyam
Construction Vs. STO reported in 2008 (17 VST 42(O) have held that
tax on dealers granted with TIN under OVAT Act at check gates is
illegal. The decision of the Hon’ble Court is to be scrupulously
followed by all concerned.”
2
Blank Declaration
ACTO Vrs. Bajaj Electricals Ltd. (2008) 18 VST (SC).
“It is observed that quite a large number of litigations in
check gates are on submission of blank / unsigned /incomplete
declarations by the transporter of goods. Incomplete documents lead
evasion of tax. In many such cases, Orissa high Court had directed the
concerned Sales Tax officers to allow such blank/ unsigned/

Income Tax Case Law latest decision by Supreme court


    Commissioner of Income Tax (Central), Kanpur Versus M/S Sahara India (Firm)
    Capital receipt or revenue receipt – financial schemes in which deposits were collected from the Public - Held that:- Following Commissioner of Income Tax vs. Sahara Investment India Limited [2003 (11) TMI 57 - ALLAHABAD High Court] - No part of the ......
    Commissioner of Income Tax –I Versus Mohammad Khaleeq Commercial Taxes
    Applicability of section 292BB – Held that:- Notice was served after 1.4.2008 i.e., after the date of incorporation of Section 292BB of Income Tax Act - CBDT Circular No.549 of 1989 concedes that if the assessee after furnishing the return of income ......
    B. Gopiram & Co. (P) Ltd. Versus Income Tax Officer
    Bad debts or business loss – Held that:- The assessee miserably failed to prove that the present transaction was in the nature of a `business transaction' - The amount given as advance was never given with the intention of doing any business in "real ......
    Director of Income Tax (Exemption) Versus Rampurji Gaushala Seva Trust
    Dissolution clause in Trust deed – Exemption u/s 80G - Held that:- Earlier exemption certificate was granted to the assessee / trust which was valid for the period from 23rd May 2001 to 31st March 2004 - For the purpose of the exemption certificate u ......
    Commissioner of Income Tax II Versus Meghmani Organics Ltd.
    Penalty u/s 271(1)(c)- Held that:- When the addition has been set aside in the quantum appeal, there is no question of levy of penalty under section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act - Decided against Revenue. ......
    Commissioner of Income Tax Versus Satvara Education Foundation
    Registration u/s 12AA – Held that:- In view of the magnitude of the income in the previous year relevant to assessment year under appeal, the charitable activities carried out cannot be called as low magnitude – The assessee trust is in the first yea ......
    Rajendra J. Patel Versus Asstt. CIT (OSD)
    Penalty u/s 271(1)(c) – Set off of business loss - Held that:- Due to bonafide mistake of the Tax Consultant of the assessee, the claim of set off of carry forward business loss was made against the income from other source during the year under cons ......
    Commissioner of Income Tax II Versus Kantibhai Revidas Patel
    Unaccounted investment –Held that:- During the search carried out in the case of one Shri Vikas A. Shah agreement to sell of the land was found - Third party statement of Vikas A. Shah was used without allowing cross examination of third party which ......
    The Commissioner of Income Tax Versus Amoli Organics (P) Ltd.
    PF and ESIC – Belated payments – Held that:- Following Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Alom Extrusions Ltd, reported in [2009 (11) TMI 27 - SUPREME COURT] - The assessee was entitled to the exemption as the amount was paid during grace period permissi ......
    Dy. Director of Income Tax (International Taxation)-1 And Others Versus M/s. A. P. Moller C/o Maersk India Pvt. Ltd. And Others
    Taxability of freight receipts – Held that:- The assessee firm is the managing owner and in that capacity only, it manages the affairs of these two companies for which it is remunerated as per the relevant terms agreed between the parties - It cannot ......
    VODAFONE CELLULAR LIMITED VERSUS SSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
    No deduction of tax certificate – Held that:- The application made by the petitioner under Section 197 has been rejected without giving details as to the outstanding demand and as to whether the petitioner's case falls within the scope of section 197 ......
    The Income Tax Officer Versus Smt. Aarti Mittal And Others
    Long term capital gain - Purchase and sale of shares – Genuine transaction or not – Held that:- Following Arun Kumar Agarwal (HUF) & Others [2012 (8) TMI 398 - JHARKHAND HIGH COURT] - Where the share broker was found involved in unfair trade practice ......
    NetHawk Network s India Private Limited Versus The Income Tax Officer
    Transfer pricing adjustments - TPA - ALP - Selection of five additional companies arbitrarily – Held that:- The TPO is very much within the statutory limitations in picking up the data for the last three years including that of the current year (AY 2 ......
    Metro & Metro versus Additional Commissioner of Income-tax
    Leather testing charges – paid to non-resident - Tax not deducted at source - Held that:- Following Channel Guide India Ltd. v. ACIT [2012 (9) TMI 95 - ITAT MUMBAI] – The law cannot cast the burden of performing the impossible task of performing tax ......
    ROBINSON IMPEX (INDIA) LTD VERSUS INCOME TAX OFFICER
    Provision for bad debts or trading loss – held that:- claim of bad debts which is a provision made in the books of account not allowed - Regarding claim of trading loss, . If a bad debt cannot be allowed as a deduction on the general commercial princ ......

Delhi Damini Gang Rape Judgement



SC No. 114/2013
State Vs. Ram Singh and another.
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
13.09.2013(2.30PM)
Present : Shri Dayan Krishnan , Shri Rajeev Mohan &
Shri A.T.Ansari, Ld. Spl. Public Prosecutor for the
State, assisted by Sh.Madhav Khurana,Advocate.
Shri V.K.Anand Ld. Counsel for accused Mukesh.
Shri Vivek Sharma, Shri Manoj Tomar and
Shri Sada Shiv, Ld. Counsels for accused Pawan.
Shri A.P Singh, Shri V.P. Singh and Ms. Geeta Ld.
Counsels for accused Vinay Sharma & accused
Akshay @ Thakur.
Shri Rajeev Jain, Ld. Amicus Curie.
Proceedings against accused Ram Singh had already
been abated, since he expired.
Remaining convicts namely Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay
and Akshay Thakur are produced from custody in
court.
Vide my separate order on sentence of even date, all
the convicts have been sentenced.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be
sent to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
(Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ ( Special Fast Track Court),
Saket Courts, New Delhi
13-09-2013
IN THE COURT OF SHRI YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE,
SPECIAL - FAST TRACK COURTS,
SAKET DISTRICT COURT COMPLEX, NEW DELHI.
Unique ID No. 02406R0020522013
SC No. 114/2013
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
U/s : 120B IPC & U/s 365 / 366 / 376(2)(g) / 377 /
307 / 302 and / or 396 /395 IPC read with
section 397 / 201 / 412 read with section
120B IPC.
State
( Government of NCT of Delhi)
...... Complainant.
Versus
1. Ram Singh, since deceased.
S/o Shri Mange Lal
R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
(Proceedings abated against him on 12-03-2013.)
2. Mukesh
S/o Shri Mange Lal
Presently R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
Permanent R/o Village Karoli,
District & P.S Karoli,
Rajasthan.
3. Akshay Kumar Singh
S/o Shri Saryu Singh
R/o Village Karmalaungh
P.S. Tandwa, District Aurangabad,
Uttar Pradesh.
4. Vinay Sharma
S/o Shri Hari Ram Sharma
R/o Jhuggi No. J-105,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
5. Pawan Kumar @ Kaalu
S/o Shri Heera
R/o Jhuggi No. J-64,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
...... Convicts.
Date of arguments on sentence concluded : 11-09-2013
Date of order : 13-09-2013
ORDER ON SENTENCE
I have heard the arguments on the point of sentence
from both the sides. The prosecution has argued that looking at
the crime committed by the convicts they be awarded maximum
penalty - of death. However, the ld counsel for convict person
argued at length and raised the following issues to be
considered at the time of award of the sentence :
a. The young age of convict person viz., convict Pawan
Gupta @ Kaalu, aged 19 years ; convict Vinay Sharma,
aged 20 Years; convict Mukesh aged 26 years and
convict Akshay Kumar Singh @ Thakur aged 28 years.
b. socio-economic conditions of the convict person, they
being poor making two ends meat, having families to
support ;
c. clean antecedents and be given chance of reformation ;
d. the presumption of innocence being in their favour ;
e. life imprisonment being the rule and death being an
exception and there being no special reasons to award
death sentence ;
f. they being convicted only on the ground of conspiracy and
not of their individual acts ;
g. that convict Mukesh and convict Pawan were drunk at
the time of incident and that accused Mukesh was driving
the bus throughout.
These circumstances, broadly, are alleged to be the
mitigating circumstances put forth by the convict person and
hence, it is argued that the death sentence be not awarded to
them.
Various judgments were referred to by the ld counsels
from either sides. The crux of the judgments is - to award a
death penalty the court has to first weigh the aggravating
circumstances against the mitigating circumstances and if there
are no mitigating circumstances then the court need to apply
the Rarest of Rare test to find if the case falls within such
category.
The law on this aspect has been developed by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the following judgments viz.,
In “Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab” (1980) 2
SCC 684, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that extreme
depravity constitute legitimate special reason for award of
death sentence. It has been held that ;
“In many cases, the extremely
cruel or beastly manner of the
commission of murder is itself a
demonstrated index of the
depraved character of the
perpetrator. That is why, it is not
desirable to consider the
circumstances of the crime and the
circumstances of the criminal in
two separate watertight
compartments.”
It was also held that :
“ if a murder involves exceptional
depravity, it shall be an
aggravating circumstance for
imposition of penalty of death.”
Further in Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983)
3 SCC 470, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that ;
“ In the first place, the very
humanistic edifice is constructed
on the foundation of “reverence for
life” principle. When a member of
the community violates this very
principle by killing another
member, the society may not feel
itself bound by the shackles of this
doctrine. Secondly, it has to be
realized that every member of the
community is able to live with
safety without his or her own life
being endangered because of the
protective arm of the community
and on account of the rule of law
enforced by it”.
It was further observed that ;
“ When the community feels that
for the sake of self preservation the
killer has to be killed, the
community may well withdraw the
protection by sanctioning the death
penalty. But the community will not
do so in every case. It may do so
( in rarest of rare cases) when its
collective conscience is so
shocked that it will expect the
holders of the judicial power centre
to inflict death penalty
irrespective of their personal
opinion as regards desirability or
otherwise of retaining death
penalty. The community may
entrain such a sentiment when the
crime is viewed from the platform
of the motive for, or the manner of
commission of the crime, or the
anti-social or abhorrent nature of
the crime, such as for instance :
(i) manner of commission of
Murder i.e., when the murder is
committed in an extremely brutal,
grotesque, diabolical, revolting,
or dastardly manner so as to
arouse intense and extreme
indignation of the community ;
(ii) whether the victim is subjected
to inhuman acts of torture of
cruelty in order to bring about his
or her death.
In Devender Pal Singh vs. State (NCT of Delhi)
(2002) 5 SCC 234, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that :
“ Principle culled out from the
judgments in Bachan Singh (supra)
and Machhi Singh (supra), is that
when the collective conscience
of the community is so shocked,
the court must award the death
sentence.”
In Ram Singh v. Sonia & Ors. (2007) 3 SCC 1, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court once again held that :
“It would be a failure of justice not
to award the death sentence in a
case where the crime was executed
in the most grotesque and
revolting manner”.
In C. Munniappan v. State of Tamil Nadu (2010)
9 SCC 567, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held;
“Stressing upon the manner of
commission of offence, if extremely
brutal, the diabolical, grotesque
killing, shocking to the collective
conscience of the society, the death
sentence should be awarded.”
In Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral v. State of
Maharashtra (2011) 14 SCC 401, the Hon’ble Supreme
Court further held that ;
“ the distinction has to be drawn
between ordinary murders and
murders which are gruesome,
ghastly or horrendous. While life
sentence should be given in the
former, the latter belongs to the
category of the rarest of rare cases,
and hence death sentence should
be given.”
In Sunder v. State (2013) 3 SCC 215 the Hon’ble
Supreme Court held ;
“Inter alia, the following factors to
be the aggravating circumstances :
a) The accused have been held
guilty of two heinous offences,
which independently of one
another, provide for the death
penalty ;
b) No previous enmity between
the parties, no grave and sudden
provocation which compelled the
accused to take the life of the
prosecutrix ;
c) Extreme mental perversion ;
d) The manner in which the victim
was murdered, and the approach
and method adopted by the
accused, disclose the traits of
outrageous criminality in the
behaviour of the accused ;
e)Well planned and consciously
motivated crime ;
f) Extreme misery caused to the
aggrieved party.
As observed earlier the ld counsels for the convicts
had referred to (a) their young age ; (b) their socio-economic
status ; (c) their clean antecedents and reformative
approach ; as the mitigating circumstances in favour of the
convicts. However, one need to add that the Hon'ble Supreme
Court had repeatedly held that the young age of the accused is
not a determinative factor by itself against the award of the
death sentence. Rather all the circumstances need to be taken
together and proper weightage to be given to each
circumstance. The Hon’ble Supreme Court rather has re-held
the death sentence in the following cases despite the young age
of the convict ;
(a) Mohammed Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab @ Abu
Mujahid v. State of Maharashtra (2012) 9 SCC 1 ;
(b) Atbir v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2010) 9 SCC 1 ;
(c) Vikram Singh v. State of Punjab (2010) 3 SCC 56 ;
(d) Shivu v. High Court of Karnataka (2007) 4 SCC 713 ;
(e) Jai Kumar v. State of M.P. (1999) 5 SCC 1 ;
(f) Dhananjoy Chatterjee v.State of WestBengal (1994) 2
SCC 220.
Similarly the socio-economic status of the convict ;
or the convict being under any intoxication cannot be the
determinative factors in sentencing as has been held in ;
a) Shimbhu v. State of Haryana 2013 (10) SCALE
595 ;
b) State of Karnataka v. Krishnappa (2000) 4 SCC 75.
I would like to refer to the contents of para 18 of
Krishnappa's case, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has
held that ;
“The reasons that accused an
unsophisticated and illiterate
citizen belongs to the weaker
section of the society ; that he was
a chronic addict to drinking and
had committed rape of a girl where
in the state of “intoxication” and
that his family comprise of a old
mother, wife and children depends
upon him. These reasons are
neither special nor adequate.
The measure of punishment in the
wake of rape cannot depend upon
the social status of the convicts or
the accused. It must depend upon
the conduct of the accused, the
state and age of the sexually
assault female and the gravity of
the criminal act. The crimes of
violence upon women needs to be
severally dealt with. The social
economic status, religion, race,
caste or creed of the accused or the
victims are ir-relevant
consideration in sentencing
policy. The protection of society and
deterring the criminals is the
avowed object of law and that is
required to be achieved by
imposing an appropriate sentence.
The sentencing court are expected
to
consider all relevant facts into
consideration bearing on the
questions of sentence and proceed
to impose a sentence
commensurate with the gravity of
the sentence. Court must hear the
loud cry for justice by the society
in cases of the heinous crime of
rape on innocent helpless girls of
tender years, and respond by
imposition of proper sentence.
Public abhorrence of the crime
needs reflection through imposition
of appropriate sentence by the
court. To show mercy in the case of
such a heinous crime would be a
travesty of justice and the plea
of leniency would be wholly
misplaced.
The submission qua clean antecedents or a chance of
reformation, I may refer to the following judgments where the
accused were first offenders but were awarded death for the
acts they had committed viz., (a) Mohd Anis Kasab (Supra) and
(b) Dhananjay Chatterjee (Supra). Rather, I may refer to the
deposition of PW82 Shri Ram Adhar wherein he had deposed
about dacoity committed with him by the convict person along
with their associates in the same bus on the time just prior to
the incident belies the claim of the convicts that they had
clean antecedents. Qua the plea of reformation I may add that
in Sunder's case (supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed
that the method adopted by the accused may disclose the
traits of outrageous criminality in the behaviour of accused.
Further, the plea of presumption of the innocence in
favour of the convicts is now not available to them since they
stand convicted. I may also put the record straight that convict
person are not convicted only on account of conspiracy but also
for their overt acts. Lastly, the plea of convict Mukesh that he
had helped the system by admitting that he was present inside
the bus, is probably to seek misplaced mercy as he took this
contradictory stand in his statement under section 313 Cr.P.C to
save himself after he found the chain of circumstances being
proved against him too.
Lastly I would like to refer to “Gurvail Singh @ Gala
& Anr. vs. State of Punjab”, AIR 2013 SC 1177, wherein
the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that;
“to award the death sentence, the
aggravating circumstances ( crime
test) have to be fully satisfied
and there should be no mitigating
circumstance ( criminal test )
favouring the accused. Even if
both the tests are satisfied as
against the accused, then the Court
has to finally apply the Rarest of
Rare Cases test ( R-R Test ), which
depends on the perception of the
society and not “judge –
centric”,
this is whether the society will
approve the awarding of death
sentence to certain types of crime
or not. While applying this test, the
Court has to look into variety of
factors like society’s abhorrence,
extreme indignation and
antipathy to certain types of
crimes like rape and murder of
minor girls and the court award
death sentence, because situation
demands, due to constitutional
compulsion, reflected by the will of
the people”.
Thus, with the aid of the law laid down by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court of India, let me now find the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances in the present case. The aggravating
circumstances are :
(a) Offence in the present case has been committed in a
extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting and thus
dastardly manner so as to arouse intense and extreme
indignation of society.
(b) Demonstration of exceptional depravity and extreme
brutality ;
(c) Extreme misery inflicted upon the prosecutrix before her
death :
(d) Grave impact of the crime on social order.
On the other hand, the mitigating circumstances, as
alleged, are (a) the young age of the convict ; (b) their socio
economic status as also the plea of the reformatory approach
and (c) their clean antecedents. These circumstances, as
alleged, have been dealt with by me in my earlier part of this
order. The aggravating circumstances thus outweigh the
mitigating circumstances. Now I need to move to R-R Test to
see if the case is covered under the bracket of rarest of rare
case.
R-R Test
The facts show that entire intestine of the prosecutrix
was perforated, splayed and cut open due to repeated insertions
of rods and hands. The convicts, in the most barbaric manner,
pulled out her internal organs with their bare hands as well as by
the rods and caused her irreparable injuries, thus exhibiting
extreme mental perversion not worthy of human condonation.
As convict in pursuance of their conspiracy lured the victims
into the bus Ex. P-1, brutally gang raped the prosecutrix,
inflicted inhuman torture and threw the defenceless victims out
of the moving bus in naked condition, profusely bleeding in a
cold winter night ; their unprovoked crime demonstrated
exceptional depravity of mind of the convicts.
In the postmortem report Ex. PW34/A, besides other
serious injuries, various bite marks were observed on her face,
lips, jaw, near ear, on the right and left breasts, left upper arm,
right lower limb, right upper inner thigh (groin) , right lower
thigh, left thigh lateral, left lower anterior , genital. It rather
show the beastly behaviour of convicts.
Further, the convicts did not stop after pulling out her
internal organs after the crime of gang rape / unnatural sex but
then had dragged the victims to the rear door of the bus Ex.P-1
to be thrown out and when the rear door was found jammed the
victims were dragged by their hairs to the front door and thrown
out of the moving bus. Her intestines were so severally
damaged and the suffering inflicted on the prosecutrix was
unparalleled. The brutality caused to her internal organs is
extreme as is evident from the medical evidence on record and
hence the act of convicts call for extreme penalty.
The Gurvail Singh's case (Supra) guides us that
the R-R test largely depends on the perception of the society as
to if it approve the awarding of death sentence to certain types
of crimes. The court has to look into the factors like society's
abhorrence, extreme indignation and antipathy to certain types
of cases viz., like the case in hand - of gang rape with brutal
murder of a helpless girl by six men.
These are the times when gruesome crimes against
women have become rampant and courts cannot turn a blind
eye to the need to send a strong deterrent message to the
perpetrators of such crimes. The increasing trend of crimes
against women can be arrested only once the society realize
that there will be no tolerance from any form of deviance
against women and more so in extreme cases of brutality such
as the present one and hence the criminal justice system must
instill confidence in the minds of people especially the women.
The crime of such nature against a helpless women, per se,
require exemplary punishment.
I may leave here while saying that the gravity of the
incident depicts the hair rising beastly and unparalleled
behaviour. The subjecting of the prosecutrix to inhuman acts of
torture before her death had not only shocked the collective
conscience but calls for the withdrawal of the protective arm of
the community around the convicts. This ghastly act of the
convicts definitely fits this case in the bracket of rarest of rare
cases. Hence, I award the following punishment to each of the
convict.
(a) The convicts, namely, convict Akshay Kumar Singh @
Thakur, convict Mukesh, convict Vinay Sharma and convict
Pawan Gupta @ Kaalu are sentenced to death for offence
punishable under section 302 Indian Penal Code. Accordingly,
the convicts be hanged by neck till they are dead.
Fine of Rs.10,000/- to each of the convict is also
imposed and in default of payment of fine such convict shall
undergo simple Imprisonment for a period of one month.
(b) for the offence under section 120-B IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(c) for the offence under section 365 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict and fine of
Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine simple
imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(d) for the offence under section 366 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(e) for the offence under section 376(2)(g) IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict person
with fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of
fine simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(f) for the offence under section 377 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(g) for the offence under section 307 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(h) for the offence under section 201 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(i) for the offence under section 395 read with section 397
IPC I award the punishment of ten years to each of the convict
person and fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of
payment of fine simple imprisonment for one month to such
convict ;
(j) for the offence under section 412 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
The sentences under section 120-B / 365 / 366 /
376(2)(g) / 377 / 307 /201 / 395 / 397 / 412 IPC to run
concurrently. Benefit under section 428 Cr.P.C to be given
wherever applicable.
I also recommend that appropriate compensation,
under section 357-A Cr.P.C be awarded to the legal heir's of the
prosecutrix and hence, a copy of this order be sent to the
Secretary, Delhi Legal Service Authority, New Delhi, for deciding
the quantum of compensation to be awarded under the scheme
referred to in sub-section 1 of section 357-A Cr.P.C.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be sent
to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
Announced in the open
court today i.e. 13-09-2013. ( Yogesh Khanna )
Additional Sessions Judge
Special – Fast Track Court
Saket District Courts
Complex
New Delhi.
IN THE COURT OF SH. YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE – SPL. FAST TRACK COURT : SAKET
DISTRICT COURTS : NEW DELHI
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
C H A R G E
I, Yogesh Khanna, Additional Sessions Judge (Spl. FTC), Saket
Courts, New Delhi do hereby charge you Sanjay S/o Late Shri Hardev Singh as
follows :
That on 4.12.2012 at about 11PM at House No. 15, Gali No. 10,
Molar Band Extension, Badarpur, New Delhi, within the jurisdiction of PS :
Badarpur, you committed rape with the prosecutrix against her will and
without her consent and you, thus, thereby committed offence punishable U/s
376 IPC and within my cognizance.
Secondly, during the above date, time and place, you criminally
intimated the prosecutrix by threatening her to kill and you, thus, thereby
committed offence punishable U/s 506 IPC and within my cognizance.
Thirdly, on 24.03.2013 at about 10PM, in the aforesaid house,
you assaulted the prosecutrix intending to outrage her modesty and hence
thereby committed offence punishable U/s 354 IPC and within my
cognizance.
I do hereby direct that you be tried by this Court for the above
said offence.
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
Charge is read over and explained to the accused who is
questioned as follows :
Q. Do you plead guilty or claim trial?
A. I plead not guilty and claim trial.
RO & AC
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
State Vs. Balbir Singh
FIR No. 289/12
PS: Neb Sarai
U/s : 376 / 506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Some documents has been filed by the ld counsel for
accused. Copy supplied to prosecution.
Put up for arguments on 09.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Anurag Pradhan
FIR No. 58/13
PS: C.R.Park
U/s : 376 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Today, I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be now taken up on 11th
and 12th of December 2013 for further prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for prosecutrix.
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Fresh vakalatnama filed on behalf of accused. Be taken
on record.
I have heard the arguments on charge and gone
through the entire material available on record especially the
statement of prosecutrix, MLC of prosecutrix and statements of
police witnesses u/s. 161 CrPC.
Prima facie, accused is liable to be charged for the
offences u/s. 354/376/506 IPC. Hence charge be framed
accordingly.
Charge so framed , read over and explained to accused
to which he pleads not guilty and claims trial.
To come on 19th, 20th and 21st of November 2013, for
prosecution evidence. First of all, prosecutrix and other public
witnesses be summoned for these above dates.
Bail application of accused be taken up on 08.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013

SC No. 193/13
State Vs. Raju @ Bhirwari Mandal
FIR No. 148/13
PS: Neb Sarai
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Today I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be taken up now on 24th of
September, 2013 for prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
SC No. 114/2013
State Vs. Ram Singh and another.
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
13.09.2013(2.30PM)
Present : Shri Dayan Krishnan , Shri Rajeev Mohan &
Shri A.T.Ansari, Ld. Spl. Public Prosecutor for the
State, assisted by Sh.Madhav Khurana,Advocate.
Shri V.K.Anand Ld. Counsel for accused Mukesh.
Shri Vivek Sharma, Shri Manoj Tomar and
Shri Sada Shiv, Ld. Counsels for accused Pawan.
Shri A.P Singh, Shri V.P. Singh and Ms. Geeta Ld.
Counsels for accused Vinay Sharma & accused
Akshay @ Thakur.
Shri Rajeev Jain, Ld. Amicus Curie.
Proceedings against accused Ram Singh had already
been abated, since he expired.
Remaining convicts namely Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay
and Akshay Thakur are produced from custody in
court.
Vide my separate order on sentence of even date, all
the convicts have been sentenced.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be
sent to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
(Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ ( Special Fast Track Court),
Saket Courts, New Delhi
13-09-2013
IN THE COURT OF SHRI YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE,
SPECIAL - FAST TRACK COURTS,
SAKET DISTRICT COURT COMPLEX, NEW DELHI.
Unique ID No. 02406R0020522013
SC No. 114/2013
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
U/s : 120B IPC & U/s 365 / 366 / 376(2)(g) / 377 /
307 / 302 and / or 396 /395 IPC read with
section 397 / 201 / 412 read with section
120B IPC.
State
( Government of NCT of Delhi)
...... Complainant.
Versus
1. Ram Singh, since deceased.
S/o Shri Mange Lal
R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
(Proceedings abated against him on 12-03-2013.)
2. Mukesh
S/o Shri Mange Lal
Presently R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
Permanent R/o Village Karoli,
District & P.S Karoli,
Rajasthan.
3. Akshay Kumar Singh
S/o Shri Saryu Singh
R/o Village Karmalaungh
P.S. Tandwa, District Aurangabad,
Uttar Pradesh.
4. Vinay Sharma
S/o Shri Hari Ram Sharma
R/o Jhuggi No. J-105,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
5. Pawan Kumar @ Kaalu
S/o Shri Heera
R/o Jhuggi No. J-64,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
...... Convicts.
Date of arguments on sentence concluded : 11-09-2013
Date of order : 13-09-2013
ORDER ON SENTENCE
I have heard the arguments on the point of sentence
from both the sides. The prosecution has argued that looking at
the crime committed by the convicts they be awarded maximum
penalty - of death. However, the ld counsel for convict person
argued at length and raised the following issues to be
considered at the time of award of the sentence :
a. The young age of convict person viz., convict Pawan
Gupta @ Kaalu, aged 19 years ; convict Vinay Sharma,
aged 20 Years; convict Mukesh aged 26 years and
convict Akshay Kumar Singh @ Thakur aged 28 years.
b. socio-economic conditions of the convict person, they
being poor making two ends meat, having families to
support ;
c. clean antecedents and be given chance of reformation ;
d. the presumption of innocence being in their favour ;
e. life imprisonment being the rule and death being an
exception and there being no special reasons to award
death sentence ;
f. they being convicted only on the ground of conspiracy and
not of their individual acts ;
g. that convict Mukesh and convict Pawan were drunk at
the time of incident and that accused Mukesh was driving
the bus throughout.
These circumstances, broadly, are alleged to be the
mitigating circumstances put forth by the convict person and
hence, it is argued that the death sentence be not awarded to
them.
Various judgments were referred to by the ld counsels
from either sides. The crux of the judgments is - to award a
death penalty the court has to first weigh the aggravating
circumstances against the mitigating circumstances and if there
are no mitigating circumstances then the court need to apply
the Rarest of Rare test to find if the case falls within such
category.
The law on this aspect has been developed by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the following judgments viz.,
In “Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab” (1980) 2
SCC 684, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that extreme
depravity constitute legitimate special reason for award of
death sentence. It has been held that ;
“In many cases, the extremely
cruel or beastly manner of the
commission of murder is itself a
demonstrated index of the
depraved character of the
perpetrator. That is why, it is not
desirable to consider the
circumstances of the crime and the
circumstances of the criminal in
two separate watertight
compartments.”
It was also held that :
“ if a murder involves exceptional
depravity, it shall be an
aggravating circumstance for
imposition of penalty of death.”
Further in Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983)
3 SCC 470, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that ;
“ In the first place, the very
humanistic edifice is constructed
on the foundation of “reverence for
life” principle. When a member of
the community violates this very
principle by killing another
member, the society may not feel
itself bound by the shackles of this
doctrine. Secondly, it has to be
realized that every member of the
community is able to live with
safety without his or her own life
being endangered because of the
protective arm of the community
and on account of the rule of law
enforced by it”.
It was further observed that ;
“ When the community feels that
for the sake of self preservation the
killer has to be killed, the
community may well withdraw the
protection by sanctioning the death
penalty. But the community will not
do so in every case. It may do so
( in rarest of rare cases) when its
collective conscience is so
shocked that it will expect the
holders of the judicial power centre
to inflict death penalty
irrespective of their personal
opinion as regards desirability or
otherwise of retaining death
penalty. The community may
entrain such a sentiment when the
crime is viewed from the platform
of the motive for, or the manner of
commission of the crime, or the
anti-social or abhorrent nature of
the crime, such as for instance :
(i) manner of commission of
Murder i.e., when the murder is
committed in an extremely brutal,
grotesque, diabolical, revolting,
or dastardly manner so as to
arouse intense and extreme
indignation of the community ;
(ii) whether the victim is subjected
to inhuman acts of torture of
cruelty in order to bring about his
or her death.
In Devender Pal Singh vs. State (NCT of Delhi)
(2002) 5 SCC 234, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that :
“ Principle culled out from the
judgments in Bachan Singh (supra)
and Machhi Singh (supra), is that
when the collective conscience
of the community is so shocked,
the court must award the death
sentence.”
In Ram Singh v. Sonia & Ors. (2007) 3 SCC 1, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court once again held that :
“It would be a failure of justice not
to award the death sentence in a
case where the crime was executed
in the most grotesque and
revolting manner”.
In C. Munniappan v. State of Tamil Nadu (2010)
9 SCC 567, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held;
“Stressing upon the manner of
commission of offence, if extremely
brutal, the diabolical, grotesque
killing, shocking to the collective
conscience of the society, the death
sentence should be awarded.”
In Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral v. State of
Maharashtra (2011) 14 SCC 401, the Hon’ble Supreme
Court further held that ;
“ the distinction has to be drawn
between ordinary murders and
murders which are gruesome,
ghastly or horrendous. While life
sentence should be given in the
former, the latter belongs to the
category of the rarest of rare cases,
and hence death sentence should
be given.”
In Sunder v. State (2013) 3 SCC 215 the Hon’ble
Supreme Court held ;
“Inter alia, the following factors to
be the aggravating circumstances :
a) The accused have been held
guilty of two heinous offences,
which independently of one
another, provide for the death
penalty ;
b) No previous enmity between
the parties, no grave and sudden
provocation which compelled the
accused to take the life of the
prosecutrix ;
c) Extreme mental perversion ;
d) The manner in which the victim
was murdered, and the approach
and method adopted by the
accused, disclose the traits of
outrageous criminality in the
behaviour of the accused ;
e)Well planned and consciously
motivated crime ;
f) Extreme misery caused to the
aggrieved party.
As observed earlier the ld counsels for the convicts
had referred to (a) their young age ; (b) their socio-economic
status ; (c) their clean antecedents and reformative
approach ; as the mitigating circumstances in favour of the
convicts. However, one need to add that the Hon'ble Supreme
Court had repeatedly held that the young age of the accused is
not a determinative factor by itself against the award of the
death sentence. Rather all the circumstances need to be taken
together and proper weightage to be given to each
circumstance. The Hon’ble Supreme Court rather has re-held
the death sentence in the following cases despite the young age
of the convict ;
(a) Mohammed Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab @ Abu
Mujahid v. State of Maharashtra (2012) 9 SCC 1 ;
(b) Atbir v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2010) 9 SCC 1 ;
(c) Vikram Singh v. State of Punjab (2010) 3 SCC 56 ;
(d) Shivu v. High Court of Karnataka (2007) 4 SCC 713 ;
(e) Jai Kumar v. State of M.P. (1999) 5 SCC 1 ;
(f) Dhananjoy Chatterjee v.State of WestBengal (1994) 2
SCC 220.
Similarly the socio-economic status of the convict ;
or the convict being under any intoxication cannot be the
determinative factors in sentencing as has been held in ;
a) Shimbhu v. State of Haryana 2013 (10) SCALE
595 ;
b) State of Karnataka v. Krishnappa (2000) 4 SCC 75.
I would like to refer to the contents of para 18 of
Krishnappa's case, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has
held that ;
“The reasons that accused an
unsophisticated and illiterate
citizen belongs to the weaker
section of the society ; that he was
a chronic addict to drinking and
had committed rape of a girl where
in the state of “intoxication” and
that his family comprise of a old
mother, wife and children depends
upon him. These reasons are
neither special nor adequate.
The measure of punishment in the
wake of rape cannot depend upon
the social status of the convicts or
the accused. It must depend upon
the conduct of the accused, the
state and age of the sexually
assault female and the gravity of
the criminal act. The crimes of
violence upon women needs to be
severally dealt with. The social
economic status, religion, race,
caste or creed of the accused or the
victims are ir-relevant
consideration in sentencing
policy. The protection of society and
deterring the criminals is the
avowed object of law and that is
required to be achieved by
imposing an appropriate sentence.
The sentencing court are expected
to
consider all relevant facts into
consideration bearing on the
questions of sentence and proceed
to impose a sentence
commensurate with the gravity of
the sentence. Court must hear the
loud cry for justice by the society
in cases of the heinous crime of
rape on innocent helpless girls of
tender years, and respond by
imposition of proper sentence.
Public abhorrence of the crime
needs reflection through imposition
of appropriate sentence by the
court. To show mercy in the case of
such a heinous crime would be a
travesty of justice and the plea
of leniency would be wholly
misplaced.
The submission qua clean antecedents or a chance of
reformation, I may refer to the following judgments where the
accused were first offenders but were awarded death for the
acts they had committed viz., (a) Mohd Anis Kasab (Supra) and
(b) Dhananjay Chatterjee (Supra). Rather, I may refer to the
deposition of PW82 Shri Ram Adhar wherein he had deposed
about dacoity committed with him by the convict person along
with their associates in the same bus on the time just prior to
the incident belies the claim of the convicts that they had
clean antecedents. Qua the plea of reformation I may add that
in Sunder's case (supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed
that the method adopted by the accused may disclose the
traits of outrageous criminality in the behaviour of accused.
Further, the plea of presumption of the innocence in
favour of the convicts is now not available to them since they
stand convicted. I may also put the record straight that convict
person are not convicted only on account of conspiracy but also
for their overt acts. Lastly, the plea of convict Mukesh that he
had helped the system by admitting that he was present inside
the bus, is probably to seek misplaced mercy as he took this
contradictory stand in his statement under section 313 Cr.P.C to
save himself after he found the chain of circumstances being
proved against him too.
Lastly I would like to refer to “Gurvail Singh @ Gala
& Anr. vs. State of Punjab”, AIR 2013 SC 1177, wherein
the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that;
“to award the death sentence, the
aggravating circumstances ( crime
test) have to be fully satisfied
and there should be no mitigating
circumstance ( criminal test )
favouring the accused. Even if
both the tests are satisfied as
against the accused, then the Court
has to finally apply the Rarest of
Rare Cases test ( R-R Test ), which
depends on the perception of the
society and not “judge –
centric”,
this is whether the society will
approve the awarding of death
sentence to certain types of crime
or not. While applying this test, the
Court has to look into variety of
factors like society’s abhorrence,
extreme indignation and
antipathy to certain types of
crimes like rape and murder of
minor girls and the court award
death sentence, because situation
demands, due to constitutional
compulsion, reflected by the will of
the people”.
Thus, with the aid of the law laid down by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court of India, let me now find the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances in the present case. The aggravating
circumstances are :
(a) Offence in the present case has been committed in a
extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting and thus
dastardly manner so as to arouse intense and extreme
indignation of society.
(b) Demonstration of exceptional depravity and extreme
brutality ;
(c) Extreme misery inflicted upon the prosecutrix before her
death :
(d) Grave impact of the crime on social order.
On the other hand, the mitigating circumstances, as
alleged, are (a) the young age of the convict ; (b) their socio
economic status as also the plea of the reformatory approach
and (c) their clean antecedents. These circumstances, as
alleged, have been dealt with by me in my earlier part of this
order. The aggravating circumstances thus outweigh the
mitigating circumstances. Now I need to move to R-R Test to
see if the case is covered under the bracket of rarest of rare
case.
R-R Test
The facts show that entire intestine of the prosecutrix
was perforated, splayed and cut open due to repeated insertions
of rods and hands. The convicts, in the most barbaric manner,
pulled out her internal organs with their bare hands as well as by
the rods and caused her irreparable injuries, thus exhibiting
extreme mental perversion not worthy of human condonation.
As convict in pursuance of their conspiracy lured the victims
into the bus Ex. P-1, brutally gang raped the prosecutrix,
inflicted inhuman torture and threw the defenceless victims out
of the moving bus in naked condition, profusely bleeding in a
cold winter night ; their unprovoked crime demonstrated
exceptional depravity of mind of the convicts.
In the postmortem report Ex. PW34/A, besides other
serious injuries, various bite marks were observed on her face,
lips, jaw, near ear, on the right and left breasts, left upper arm,
right lower limb, right upper inner thigh (groin) , right lower
thigh, left thigh lateral, left lower anterior , genital. It rather
show the beastly behaviour of convicts.
Further, the convicts did not stop after pulling out her
internal organs after the crime of gang rape / unnatural sex but
then had dragged the victims to the rear door of the bus Ex.P-1
to be thrown out and when the rear door was found jammed the
victims were dragged by their hairs to the front door and thrown
out of the moving bus. Her intestines were so severally
damaged and the suffering inflicted on the prosecutrix was
unparalleled. The brutality caused to her internal organs is
extreme as is evident from the medical evidence on record and
hence the act of convicts call for extreme penalty.
The Gurvail Singh's case (Supra) guides us that
the R-R test largely depends on the perception of the society as
to if it approve the awarding of death sentence to certain types
of crimes. The court has to look into the factors like society's
abhorrence, extreme indignation and antipathy to certain types
of cases viz., like the case in hand - of gang rape with brutal
murder of a helpless girl by six men.
These are the times when gruesome crimes against
women have become rampant and courts cannot turn a blind
eye to the need to send a strong deterrent message to the
perpetrators of such crimes. The increasing trend of crimes
against women can be arrested only once the society realize
that there will be no tolerance from any form of deviance
against women and more so in extreme cases of brutality such
as the present one and hence the criminal justice system must
instill confidence in the minds of people especially the women.
The crime of such nature against a helpless women, per se,
require exemplary punishment.
I may leave here while saying that the gravity of the
incident depicts the hair rising beastly and unparalleled
behaviour. The subjecting of the prosecutrix to inhuman acts of
torture before her death had not only shocked the collective
conscience but calls for the withdrawal of the protective arm of
the community around the convicts. This ghastly act of the
convicts definitely fits this case in the bracket of rarest of rare
cases. Hence, I award the following punishment to each of the
convict.
(a) The convicts, namely, convict Akshay Kumar Singh @
Thakur, convict Mukesh, convict Vinay Sharma and convict
Pawan Gupta @ Kaalu are sentenced to death for offence
punishable under section 302 Indian Penal Code. Accordingly,
the convicts be hanged by neck till they are dead.
Fine of Rs.10,000/- to each of the convict is also
imposed and in default of payment of fine such convict shall
undergo simple Imprisonment for a period of one month.
(b) for the offence under section 120-B IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(c) for the offence under section 365 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict and fine of
Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine simple
imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(d) for the offence under section 366 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(e) for the offence under section 376(2)(g) IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict person
with fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of
fine simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(f) for the offence under section 377 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(g) for the offence under section 307 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(h) for the offence under section 201 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(i) for the offence under section 395 read with section 397
IPC I award the punishment of ten years to each of the convict
person and fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of
payment of fine simple imprisonment for one month to such
convict ;
(j) for the offence under section 412 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
The sentences under section 120-B / 365 / 366 /
376(2)(g) / 377 / 307 /201 / 395 / 397 / 412 IPC to run
concurrently. Benefit under section 428 Cr.P.C to be given
wherever applicable.
I also recommend that appropriate compensation,
under section 357-A Cr.P.C be awarded to the legal heir's of the
prosecutrix and hence, a copy of this order be sent to the
Secretary, Delhi Legal Service Authority, New Delhi, for deciding
the quantum of compensation to be awarded under the scheme
referred to in sub-section 1 of section 357-A Cr.P.C.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be sent
to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
Announced in the open
court today i.e. 13-09-2013. ( Yogesh Khanna )
Additional Sessions Judge
Special – Fast Track Court
Saket District Courts
Complex
New Delhi.
IN THE COURT OF SH. YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE – SPL. FAST TRACK COURT : SAKET
DISTRICT COURTS : NEW DELHI
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
C H A R G E
I, Yogesh Khanna, Additional Sessions Judge (Spl. FTC), Saket
Courts, New Delhi do hereby charge you Sanjay S/o Late Shri Hardev Singh as
follows :
That on 4.12.2012 at about 11PM at House No. 15, Gali No. 10,
Molar Band Extension, Badarpur, New Delhi, within the jurisdiction of PS :
Badarpur, you committed rape with the prosecutrix against her will and
without her consent and you, thus, thereby committed offence punishable U/s
376 IPC and within my cognizance.
Secondly, during the above date, time and place, you criminally
intimated the prosecutrix by threatening her to kill and you, thus, thereby
committed offence punishable U/s 506 IPC and within my cognizance.
Thirdly, on 24.03.2013 at about 10PM, in the aforesaid house,
you assaulted the prosecutrix intending to outrage her modesty and hence
thereby committed offence punishable U/s 354 IPC and within my
cognizance.
I do hereby direct that you be tried by this Court for the above
said offence.
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
Charge is read over and explained to the accused who is
questioned as follows :
Q. Do you plead guilty or claim trial?
A. I plead not guilty and claim trial.
RO & AC
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
State Vs. Balbir Singh
FIR No. 289/12
PS: Neb Sarai
U/s : 376 / 506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Some documents has been filed by the ld counsel for
accused. Copy supplied to prosecution.
Put up for arguments on 09.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Anurag Pradhan
FIR No. 58/13
PS: C.R.Park
U/s : 376 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Today, I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be now taken up on 11th
and 12th of December 2013 for further prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for prosecutrix.
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Fresh vakalatnama filed on behalf of accused. Be taken
on record.
I have heard the arguments on charge and gone
through the entire material available on record especially the
statement of prosecutrix, MLC of prosecutrix and statements of
police witnesses u/s. 161 CrPC.
Prima facie, accused is liable to be charged for the
offences u/s. 354/376/506 IPC. Hence charge be framed
accordingly.
Charge so framed , read over and explained to accused
to which he pleads not guilty and claims trial.
To come on 19th, 20th and 21st of November 2013, for
prosecution evidence. First of all, prosecutrix and other public
witnesses be summoned for these above dates.
Bail application of accused be taken up on 08.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013

SC No. 193/13
State Vs. Raju @ Bhirwari Mandal
FIR No. 148/13
PS: Neb Sarai
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Today I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be taken up now on 24th of
September, 2013 for prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
SC No. 114/2013
State Vs. Ram Singh and another.
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
13.09.2013(2.30PM)
Present : Shri Dayan Krishnan , Shri Rajeev Mohan &
Shri A.T.Ansari, Ld. Spl. Public Prosecutor for the
State, assisted by Sh.Madhav Khurana,Advocate.
Shri V.K.Anand Ld. Counsel for accused Mukesh.
Shri Vivek Sharma, Shri Manoj Tomar and
Shri Sada Shiv, Ld. Counsels for accused Pawan.
Shri A.P Singh, Shri V.P. Singh and Ms. Geeta Ld.
Counsels for accused Vinay Sharma & accused
Akshay @ Thakur.
Shri Rajeev Jain, Ld. Amicus Curie.
Proceedings against accused Ram Singh had already
been abated, since he expired.
Remaining convicts namely Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay
and Akshay Thakur are produced from custody in
court.
Vide my separate order on sentence of even date, all
the convicts have been sentenced.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be
sent to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
(Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ ( Special Fast Track Court),
Saket Courts, New Delhi
13-09-2013
IN THE COURT OF SHRI YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE,
SPECIAL - FAST TRACK COURTS,
SAKET DISTRICT COURT COMPLEX, NEW DELHI.
Unique ID No. 02406R0020522013
SC No. 114/2013
FIR No. 413/2012
P.S. : Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
U/s : 120B IPC & U/s 365 / 366 / 376(2)(g) / 377 /
307 / 302 and / or 396 /395 IPC read with
section 397 / 201 / 412 read with section
120B IPC.
State
( Government of NCT of Delhi)
...... Complainant.
Versus
1. Ram Singh, since deceased.
S/o Shri Mange Lal
R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
(Proceedings abated against him on 12-03-2013.)
2. Mukesh
S/o Shri Mange Lal
Presently R/o Jhuggi No. J-49,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
Permanent R/o Village Karoli,
District & P.S Karoli,
Rajasthan.
3. Akshay Kumar Singh
S/o Shri Saryu Singh
R/o Village Karmalaungh
P.S. Tandwa, District Aurangabad,
Uttar Pradesh.
4. Vinay Sharma
S/o Shri Hari Ram Sharma
R/o Jhuggi No. J-105,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
5. Pawan Kumar @ Kaalu
S/o Shri Heera
R/o Jhuggi No. J-64,
Ravidass Camp, Sector-3,
R.K Puram, New Delhi.
...... Convicts.
Date of arguments on sentence concluded : 11-09-2013
Date of order : 13-09-2013
ORDER ON SENTENCE
I have heard the arguments on the point of sentence
from both the sides. The prosecution has argued that looking at
the crime committed by the convicts they be awarded maximum
penalty - of death. However, the ld counsel for convict person
argued at length and raised the following issues to be
considered at the time of award of the sentence :
a. The young age of convict person viz., convict Pawan
Gupta @ Kaalu, aged 19 years ; convict Vinay Sharma,
aged 20 Years; convict Mukesh aged 26 years and
convict Akshay Kumar Singh @ Thakur aged 28 years.
b. socio-economic conditions of the convict person, they
being poor making two ends meat, having families to
support ;
c. clean antecedents and be given chance of reformation ;
d. the presumption of innocence being in their favour ;
e. life imprisonment being the rule and death being an
exception and there being no special reasons to award
death sentence ;
f. they being convicted only on the ground of conspiracy and
not of their individual acts ;
g. that convict Mukesh and convict Pawan were drunk at
the time of incident and that accused Mukesh was driving
the bus throughout.
These circumstances, broadly, are alleged to be the
mitigating circumstances put forth by the convict person and
hence, it is argued that the death sentence be not awarded to
them.
Various judgments were referred to by the ld counsels
from either sides. The crux of the judgments is - to award a
death penalty the court has to first weigh the aggravating
circumstances against the mitigating circumstances and if there
are no mitigating circumstances then the court need to apply
the Rarest of Rare test to find if the case falls within such
category.
The law on this aspect has been developed by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the following judgments viz.,
In “Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab” (1980) 2
SCC 684, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that extreme
depravity constitute legitimate special reason for award of
death sentence. It has been held that ;
“In many cases, the extremely
cruel or beastly manner of the
commission of murder is itself a
demonstrated index of the
depraved character of the
perpetrator. That is why, it is not
desirable to consider the
circumstances of the crime and the
circumstances of the criminal in
two separate watertight
compartments.”
It was also held that :
“ if a murder involves exceptional
depravity, it shall be an
aggravating circumstance for
imposition of penalty of death.”
Further in Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983)
3 SCC 470, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that ;
“ In the first place, the very
humanistic edifice is constructed
on the foundation of “reverence for
life” principle. When a member of
the community violates this very
principle by killing another
member, the society may not feel
itself bound by the shackles of this
doctrine. Secondly, it has to be
realized that every member of the
community is able to live with
safety without his or her own life
being endangered because of the
protective arm of the community
and on account of the rule of law
enforced by it”.
It was further observed that ;
“ When the community feels that
for the sake of self preservation the
killer has to be killed, the
community may well withdraw the
protection by sanctioning the death
penalty. But the community will not
do so in every case. It may do so
( in rarest of rare cases) when its
collective conscience is so
shocked that it will expect the
holders of the judicial power centre
to inflict death penalty
irrespective of their personal
opinion as regards desirability or
otherwise of retaining death
penalty. The community may
entrain such a sentiment when the
crime is viewed from the platform
of the motive for, or the manner of
commission of the crime, or the
anti-social or abhorrent nature of
the crime, such as for instance :
(i) manner of commission of
Murder i.e., when the murder is
committed in an extremely brutal,
grotesque, diabolical, revolting,
or dastardly manner so as to
arouse intense and extreme
indignation of the community ;
(ii) whether the victim is subjected
to inhuman acts of torture of
cruelty in order to bring about his
or her death.
In Devender Pal Singh vs. State (NCT of Delhi)
(2002) 5 SCC 234, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that :
“ Principle culled out from the
judgments in Bachan Singh (supra)
and Machhi Singh (supra), is that
when the collective conscience
of the community is so shocked,
the court must award the death
sentence.”
In Ram Singh v. Sonia & Ors. (2007) 3 SCC 1, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court once again held that :
“It would be a failure of justice not
to award the death sentence in a
case where the crime was executed
in the most grotesque and
revolting manner”.
In C. Munniappan v. State of Tamil Nadu (2010)
9 SCC 567, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held;
“Stressing upon the manner of
commission of offence, if extremely
brutal, the diabolical, grotesque
killing, shocking to the collective
conscience of the society, the death
sentence should be awarded.”
In Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral v. State of
Maharashtra (2011) 14 SCC 401, the Hon’ble Supreme
Court further held that ;
“ the distinction has to be drawn
between ordinary murders and
murders which are gruesome,
ghastly or horrendous. While life
sentence should be given in the
former, the latter belongs to the
category of the rarest of rare cases,
and hence death sentence should
be given.”
In Sunder v. State (2013) 3 SCC 215 the Hon’ble
Supreme Court held ;
“Inter alia, the following factors to
be the aggravating circumstances :
a) The accused have been held
guilty of two heinous offences,
which independently of one
another, provide for the death
penalty ;
b) No previous enmity between
the parties, no grave and sudden
provocation which compelled the
accused to take the life of the
prosecutrix ;
c) Extreme mental perversion ;
d) The manner in which the victim
was murdered, and the approach
and method adopted by the
accused, disclose the traits of
outrageous criminality in the
behaviour of the accused ;
e)Well planned and consciously
motivated crime ;
f) Extreme misery caused to the
aggrieved party.
As observed earlier the ld counsels for the convicts
had referred to (a) their young age ; (b) their socio-economic
status ; (c) their clean antecedents and reformative
approach ; as the mitigating circumstances in favour of the
convicts. However, one need to add that the Hon'ble Supreme
Court had repeatedly held that the young age of the accused is
not a determinative factor by itself against the award of the
death sentence. Rather all the circumstances need to be taken
together and proper weightage to be given to each
circumstance. The Hon’ble Supreme Court rather has re-held
the death sentence in the following cases despite the young age
of the convict ;
(a) Mohammed Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab @ Abu
Mujahid v. State of Maharashtra (2012) 9 SCC 1 ;
(b) Atbir v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2010) 9 SCC 1 ;
(c) Vikram Singh v. State of Punjab (2010) 3 SCC 56 ;
(d) Shivu v. High Court of Karnataka (2007) 4 SCC 713 ;
(e) Jai Kumar v. State of M.P. (1999) 5 SCC 1 ;
(f) Dhananjoy Chatterjee v.State of WestBengal (1994) 2
SCC 220.
Similarly the socio-economic status of the convict ;
or the convict being under any intoxication cannot be the
determinative factors in sentencing as has been held in ;
a) Shimbhu v. State of Haryana 2013 (10) SCALE
595 ;
b) State of Karnataka v. Krishnappa (2000) 4 SCC 75.
I would like to refer to the contents of para 18 of
Krishnappa's case, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has
held that ;
“The reasons that accused an
unsophisticated and illiterate
citizen belongs to the weaker
section of the society ; that he was
a chronic addict to drinking and
had committed rape of a girl where
in the state of “intoxication” and
that his family comprise of a old
mother, wife and children depends
upon him. These reasons are
neither special nor adequate.
The measure of punishment in the
wake of rape cannot depend upon
the social status of the convicts or
the accused. It must depend upon
the conduct of the accused, the
state and age of the sexually
assault female and the gravity of
the criminal act. The crimes of
violence upon women needs to be
severally dealt with. The social
economic status, religion, race,
caste or creed of the accused or the
victims are ir-relevant
consideration in sentencing
policy. The protection of society and
deterring the criminals is the
avowed object of law and that is
required to be achieved by
imposing an appropriate sentence.
The sentencing court are expected
to
consider all relevant facts into
consideration bearing on the
questions of sentence and proceed
to impose a sentence
commensurate with the gravity of
the sentence. Court must hear the
loud cry for justice by the society
in cases of the heinous crime of
rape on innocent helpless girls of
tender years, and respond by
imposition of proper sentence.
Public abhorrence of the crime
needs reflection through imposition
of appropriate sentence by the
court. To show mercy in the case of
such a heinous crime would be a
travesty of justice and the plea
of leniency would be wholly
misplaced.
The submission qua clean antecedents or a chance of
reformation, I may refer to the following judgments where the
accused were first offenders but were awarded death for the
acts they had committed viz., (a) Mohd Anis Kasab (Supra) and
(b) Dhananjay Chatterjee (Supra). Rather, I may refer to the
deposition of PW82 Shri Ram Adhar wherein he had deposed
about dacoity committed with him by the convict person along
with their associates in the same bus on the time just prior to
the incident belies the claim of the convicts that they had
clean antecedents. Qua the plea of reformation I may add that
in Sunder's case (supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed
that the method adopted by the accused may disclose the
traits of outrageous criminality in the behaviour of accused.
Further, the plea of presumption of the innocence in
favour of the convicts is now not available to them since they
stand convicted. I may also put the record straight that convict
person are not convicted only on account of conspiracy but also
for their overt acts. Lastly, the plea of convict Mukesh that he
had helped the system by admitting that he was present inside
the bus, is probably to seek misplaced mercy as he took this
contradictory stand in his statement under section 313 Cr.P.C to
save himself after he found the chain of circumstances being
proved against him too.
Lastly I would like to refer to “Gurvail Singh @ Gala
& Anr. vs. State of Punjab”, AIR 2013 SC 1177, wherein
the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that;
“to award the death sentence, the
aggravating circumstances ( crime
test) have to be fully satisfied
and there should be no mitigating
circumstance ( criminal test )
favouring the accused. Even if
both the tests are satisfied as
against the accused, then the Court
has to finally apply the Rarest of
Rare Cases test ( R-R Test ), which
depends on the perception of the
society and not “judge –
centric”,
this is whether the society will
approve the awarding of death
sentence to certain types of crime
or not. While applying this test, the
Court has to look into variety of
factors like society’s abhorrence,
extreme indignation and
antipathy to certain types of
crimes like rape and murder of
minor girls and the court award
death sentence, because situation
demands, due to constitutional
compulsion, reflected by the will of
the people”.
Thus, with the aid of the law laid down by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court of India, let me now find the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances in the present case. The aggravating
circumstances are :
(a) Offence in the present case has been committed in a
extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting and thus
dastardly manner so as to arouse intense and extreme
indignation of society.
(b) Demonstration of exceptional depravity and extreme
brutality ;
(c) Extreme misery inflicted upon the prosecutrix before her
death :
(d) Grave impact of the crime on social order.
On the other hand, the mitigating circumstances, as
alleged, are (a) the young age of the convict ; (b) their socio
economic status as also the plea of the reformatory approach
and (c) their clean antecedents. These circumstances, as
alleged, have been dealt with by me in my earlier part of this
order. The aggravating circumstances thus outweigh the
mitigating circumstances. Now I need to move to R-R Test to
see if the case is covered under the bracket of rarest of rare
case.
R-R Test
The facts show that entire intestine of the prosecutrix
was perforated, splayed and cut open due to repeated insertions
of rods and hands. The convicts, in the most barbaric manner,
pulled out her internal organs with their bare hands as well as by
the rods and caused her irreparable injuries, thus exhibiting
extreme mental perversion not worthy of human condonation.
As convict in pursuance of their conspiracy lured the victims
into the bus Ex. P-1, brutally gang raped the prosecutrix,
inflicted inhuman torture and threw the defenceless victims out
of the moving bus in naked condition, profusely bleeding in a
cold winter night ; their unprovoked crime demonstrated
exceptional depravity of mind of the convicts.
In the postmortem report Ex. PW34/A, besides other
serious injuries, various bite marks were observed on her face,
lips, jaw, near ear, on the right and left breasts, left upper arm,
right lower limb, right upper inner thigh (groin) , right lower
thigh, left thigh lateral, left lower anterior , genital. It rather
show the beastly behaviour of convicts.
Further, the convicts did not stop after pulling out her
internal organs after the crime of gang rape / unnatural sex but
then had dragged the victims to the rear door of the bus Ex.P-1
to be thrown out and when the rear door was found jammed the
victims were dragged by their hairs to the front door and thrown
out of the moving bus. Her intestines were so severally
damaged and the suffering inflicted on the prosecutrix was
unparalleled. The brutality caused to her internal organs is
extreme as is evident from the medical evidence on record and
hence the act of convicts call for extreme penalty.
The Gurvail Singh's case (Supra) guides us that
the R-R test largely depends on the perception of the society as
to if it approve the awarding of death sentence to certain types
of crimes. The court has to look into the factors like society's
abhorrence, extreme indignation and antipathy to certain types
of cases viz., like the case in hand - of gang rape with brutal
murder of a helpless girl by six men.
These are the times when gruesome crimes against
women have become rampant and courts cannot turn a blind
eye to the need to send a strong deterrent message to the
perpetrators of such crimes. The increasing trend of crimes
against women can be arrested only once the society realize
that there will be no tolerance from any form of deviance
against women and more so in extreme cases of brutality such
as the present one and hence the criminal justice system must
instill confidence in the minds of people especially the women.
The crime of such nature against a helpless women, per se,
require exemplary punishment.
I may leave here while saying that the gravity of the
incident depicts the hair rising beastly and unparalleled
behaviour. The subjecting of the prosecutrix to inhuman acts of
torture before her death had not only shocked the collective
conscience but calls for the withdrawal of the protective arm of
the community around the convicts. This ghastly act of the
convicts definitely fits this case in the bracket of rarest of rare
cases. Hence, I award the following punishment to each of the
convict.
(a) The convicts, namely, convict Akshay Kumar Singh @
Thakur, convict Mukesh, convict Vinay Sharma and convict
Pawan Gupta @ Kaalu are sentenced to death for offence
punishable under section 302 Indian Penal Code. Accordingly,
the convicts be hanged by neck till they are dead.
Fine of Rs.10,000/- to each of the convict is also
imposed and in default of payment of fine such convict shall
undergo simple Imprisonment for a period of one month.
(b) for the offence under section 120-B IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(c) for the offence under section 365 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict and fine of
Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine simple
imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(d) for the offence under section 366 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(e) for the offence under section 376(2)(g) IPC I award the
punishment of life imprisonment to each of the convict person
with fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of
fine simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(f) for the offence under section 377 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(g) for the offence under section 307 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(h) for the offence under section 201 IPC I award the
punishment of seven years to each of the convict person and
fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
(i) for the offence under section 395 read with section 397
IPC I award the punishment of ten years to each of the convict
person and fine of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of
payment of fine simple imprisonment for one month to such
convict ;
(j) for the offence under section 412 IPC I award the
punishment of ten years to each of the convict person and fine
of Rs.5000/- to each of them. In default of payment of fine
simple imprisonment for one month to such convict ;
The sentences under section 120-B / 365 / 366 /
376(2)(g) / 377 / 307 /201 / 395 / 397 / 412 IPC to run
concurrently. Benefit under section 428 Cr.P.C to be given
wherever applicable.
I also recommend that appropriate compensation,
under section 357-A Cr.P.C be awarded to the legal heir's of the
prosecutrix and hence, a copy of this order be sent to the
Secretary, Delhi Legal Service Authority, New Delhi, for deciding
the quantum of compensation to be awarded under the scheme
referred to in sub-section 1 of section 357-A Cr.P.C.
The convicts are also informed that they can file an
appeal against the judgment and order on sentence within a
period of 30 days as per Article 115 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
Attested copy of the judgment, order on sentence,
copy of charge, evidence, statement under section 313 Cr.P.C,
exhibited documents be given to the convicts, free of cost.
The exhibits be preserved till the confirmation of
death penalty by the Hon'ble High Court. The death penalty
reference is being sent to Hon'ble High Court of Delhi for the
confirmation of the same. The file be prepared as per Rule 34
of Chapter 24 Part B Vol. III of Delhi High Court Rules and be sent
to Hon'be High Court as per rules.
Announced in the open
court today i.e. 13-09-2013. ( Yogesh Khanna )
Additional Sessions Judge
Special – Fast Track Court
Saket District Courts
Complex
New Delhi.
IN THE COURT OF SH. YOGESH KHANNA,
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE – SPL. FAST TRACK COURT : SAKET
DISTRICT COURTS : NEW DELHI
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
C H A R G E
I, Yogesh Khanna, Additional Sessions Judge (Spl. FTC), Saket
Courts, New Delhi do hereby charge you Sanjay S/o Late Shri Hardev Singh as
follows :
That on 4.12.2012 at about 11PM at House No. 15, Gali No. 10,
Molar Band Extension, Badarpur, New Delhi, within the jurisdiction of PS :
Badarpur, you committed rape with the prosecutrix against her will and
without her consent and you, thus, thereby committed offence punishable U/s
376 IPC and within my cognizance.
Secondly, during the above date, time and place, you criminally
intimated the prosecutrix by threatening her to kill and you, thus, thereby
committed offence punishable U/s 506 IPC and within my cognizance.
Thirdly, on 24.03.2013 at about 10PM, in the aforesaid house,
you assaulted the prosecutrix intending to outrage her modesty and hence
thereby committed offence punishable U/s 354 IPC and within my
cognizance.
I do hereby direct that you be tried by this Court for the above
said offence.
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
Charge is read over and explained to the accused who is
questioned as follows :
Q. Do you plead guilty or claim trial?
A. I plead not guilty and claim trial.
RO & AC
( Yogesh Khanna )
ASJ / Spl. FTC SD, Saket, New Delhi
13.09.2013
State Vs. Balbir Singh
FIR No. 289/12
PS: Neb Sarai
U/s : 376 / 506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Some documents has been filed by the ld counsel for
accused. Copy supplied to prosecution.
Put up for arguments on 09.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Anurag Pradhan
FIR No. 58/13
PS: C.R.Park
U/s : 376 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused on bail and present in court.
Today, I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be now taken up on 11th
and 12th of December 2013 for further prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013
State Vs. Sanjay
FIR No. 103/2013
P.S Badarpur, New Delhi.
U/s. 354/376/506 IPC
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Ld counsel for prosecutrix.
Ld counsel for accused.
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Fresh vakalatnama filed on behalf of accused. Be taken
on record.
I have heard the arguments on charge and gone
through the entire material available on record especially the
statement of prosecutrix, MLC of prosecutrix and statements of
police witnesses u/s. 161 CrPC.
Prima facie, accused is liable to be charged for the
offences u/s. 354/376/506 IPC. Hence charge be framed
accordingly.
Charge so framed , read over and explained to accused
to which he pleads not guilty and claims trial.
To come on 19th, 20th and 21st of November 2013, for
prosecution evidence. First of all, prosecutrix and other public
witnesses be summoned for these above dates.
Bail application of accused be taken up on 08.10.2013.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013

SC No. 193/13
State Vs. Raju @ Bhirwari Mandal
FIR No. 148/13
PS: Neb Sarai
13.09.2013
Present : Shri A. T. Ansari Ld. Addl. P.P. for State
Accused in JC and produced in court.
Today I have to deliver order on sentence at 2.30PM,in
gang rape case dt. 16.12.2012. Even otherwise, no prosecution
witness is present today.
Matter is adjourned and shall be taken up now on 24th of
September, 2013 for prosecution evidence.
(Yogesh Khanna)
ASJ(Spl. FTC)
Saket Court Complex
13.09.2013