Death Sentence A Measure Of Social Necessity For Deterring Other Potential Offenders: MP HC Confirms Death Penalty In Child Rape- Murder Case [Read Judgment]

The only punishment which the accused persons deserve for having committed the reprehensible and gruesome murder of innocent child to satisfy their lust is nothing but death, the bench said.

While confirming death sentence to two men accused of rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl, the Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that it is immensely appalled by the alarming increase in the recent incidents of child rapes and also being aware of the rising anger of the society over rape incidents of children across the country, therefore, it considers death sentence as a measure of social necessity and also a mean of deterring other potential offenders.

A bench of Justice SK Seth and Justice Nandita Dubey dismissed the appeals filed by the accused upholding the trial court verdict.

One of the main contentions in the appeal was regarding the statement made in defence by the accused under Section 313 of the CrPC. The bench held that such a statement given can be used for proving their guilt as much as the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses. The court also observed that the accused alleging ineffective assistance must show that for counsel's ineffective assistance and unprofessional errors, the result of the trial would have been different.

While confirming death sentence, the bench observed that the only punishment which the accused persons deserve for having committed the reprehensible and gruesome murder of an innocent child to satisfy their lust, is nothing but death.

Justice Nandita Dubey, who authored the judgment, said: “A helpless child of 11 years, who had gone to keep her belongings to the house of accused Satish was kidnapped and subsequently raped. She was also subjected to carnal intercourse and made to suffer untold pain and agony. The accused did not stop there, but they strangulated her, threw her half-naked body near the road, in total disregard of the decency and respect for a dead female body. Considering that the deceased was an innocent child, who could not have provided any excuse, much less any provocation for committing such heinous act, coupled with the subsequent conduct of throwing the half-naked body of the deceased in the open exhibiting their abusive conduct, and acting normal after commission of the crime, asking for liquor from Jaipal shows lack of any remorse on their part.”

The judgment also quotes a provision of the ordinance promulgated recently providing death penalty for rapists of girls below 12 years of age and other stringent penal provisions for rape.