New Delhi, October 6
The Supreme Court today reduced to life term the death sentence pronounced to Santosh Kumar Singh for stalking and murdering law student Priyadarshini Mattoo in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area in 1996, observing that he could be reformed.

“There is nothing to suggest that he would not be capable of reform,” a Bench comprising Justices Harjit Singh Bedi and Chandramauli Kr. Prasad ruled in their verdict.

The Bench also listed several mitigating circumstances for commuting the death penalty awarded by the Delhi High Court on October 30, 2006. Observing that the HC had reversed the trial court verdict acquitting him, the apex court said Santosh was a young man of 24 when he committed the crime. He got married after being acquitted by the trial court in December 1999 and now had a girl child.

Undoubtedly, he would have had time for “reflection” over the events of the past 15 years and to “ponder over the predicament that he now faces”. Also, his father, a top police officer who was serving in Jammu and Kashmir at the time of crime, died shortly after the HC verdict, the SC said.

The Bench also noted the aggravating circumstances. Being the son of police officer and a lawyer himself, “exemplary behaviour” was expected of him. But with a “premeditated approach he continued to harass the victim for nearly two years and ultimately in spite of repeated warnings by the police and his undertakings to them went about committing a most ghastly act.

“The act itself sent ripples in the society and showed how insecure a citizen can get against this kind of a person,” the Judges pointed out.

“Nevertheless, to our mind, the balance sheet tilts marginally in the favour of the appellant, and the ends of justice would be met if the sentence awarded to him is commuted from death to life imprisonment,” the Bench said.

The apex court also clarified that if the judiciary had some difficulty in deciding between death penalty and life term, “it is only appropriate that the lesser sentence should be awarded. This is the underlying philosophy behind the rarest of the rare principle.”

Priyadarshini, daughter of CL Mattoo, a retired engineer of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was pursuing law from Delhi University from where the accused had also got his law degree in 1994. The CBI had investigated the case. 

There is nothing to suggest that he would not be capable of reform... The act itself sent ripples in the society and showed how insecure a citizen can get against this kind of a person.

“Nevertheless, to our mind, the balance sheet tilts marginally in the favour of the appellant... justice would be met if the sentence awarded to him is commuted from death to life imprisonment.

New Delhi, October 6
Father of Delhi University law student Priyadarshini Mattoo, who was raped and then killed by Santosh Kumar Singh nearly 14 years ago, today expressed dissatisfaction over the commuting of the death penalty to life term.

"I am not satisfied with the sentence. This can be discussed only by the legal experts as it is quite evident that even the Supreme Court has upheld the verdict of the Delhi High Court," Chaman Lal Mattoo said.

The CBI counsel, however, hailed the outcome of the 14-year-old-case saying, "the probe agency is satisfied as the verdict of the Delhi High Court has been upheld."

Observing that the high and mighty convicts manage to come out early despite being sentenced to life term, the victim's father said, "It is not clear as to what would be the duration of the imprisonment." There have been various instances where the convicts have managed to come out, he said, adding, "This is the danger. The case has not met the right treatment by the apex court." He expressed gratitude to civil society for its support in fighting the cause of justice.

Mattoo's lawyer Ashok Bhan said that he would file a review or curative petition seeking enhancement of the punishment after going through the verdict. "He was not an ordinary criminal and, therefore, it (case) was the rarest of rare category," he said. Bhan also termed the judgement as a "setback" to Mattoo's family.

A Supreme Court Bench of Justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad upheld the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former IPS officer, in the case but reduced his death sentence to life imprisonment. — PTI 

New Delhi, October 6
Minutes after taking over as the new Director General of the CRPF, K Vijay Kumar today refused to draw comparisons between his famous operations against forest brigand Veerappan and the Maoist problem being tackled by the paramilitary force.

Kumar, who joined after the previous incumbent Vikram Srivastava was shifted last week, said: “….Veerappan and the Left-wing extremism are totally different .. it would be erroneous to compare the two situations.”

“Yes, experience can be used but there can be no comparisons. The only common point is someone is on the run and the forces are in pursuit,” added the 1975-batch Tamil Nadu cadre officer, who was the chief the Special Task Force (STF) which eliminated Veerappan in 2004.

Every operation is different, he said, while refusing to be drawn into issues of strategy like use of air support for tackling Naxalites. Kumar, who has had a stint as the IG operations in Kashmir while on deputation with the BSF, said his job was to see if the CRPF, a three-lakh strong force, could develop a niche strength.

“My priorities are to see that things (indicating operations and other aspects) going on are more purposeful...also keeping in mind the governments view and agenda," said Kumar.

Asked whether he considers the Naxal problem as a challenge, he said, “Who would not? Who did not? It is a formidable challenge.”

When asked if the world's largest paramilitary force will see some structural changes with him at the helm now, 58-year-old Kumar replied in the affirmative but added that he could only decide on it when he spends some more time in the new assignment.

“If any structural changes are required I will take it...all such measures which are within my authority (will be taken). Something which is not within my authority will be addressed to higher authorities,” he said.

Kumar, who was till now the Director of the Hyderabad based Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, said the best practices and lessons of his earlier operations and stints can always be used to new theatres of work.

Kumar also said the training aspects of both the military and the police can go hand-in-hand while jungle warfare skills are being imparted to paramilitary personnel.

The new CRPF chief was earlier accorded a Guard of Honour before he took the baton from outgoing chief Srivastava who has been transferred to the Bureau of Police Research and Development as the Director General.

Kumar was then briefed by senior officers, who had come from various formations from across the country, about the deployment and strategies of the force.

Chandigarh, October 6
By making Class X boards optional, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has posed a virtual ban on students to switch schools after Class X.

According to a circular distributed recently in schools, a Class X student of any senior secondary school can only opt for the boards if he wishes to change from the CBSE to any other board. The second option available is to take school conducted examination and continue in same school till Class XII.

Apparently clueless about the dilemma being faced by thousands of students across the region, RJ Khande Rao, the newly appointed CBSE director, Panchkula, asserted, “The entire circular number 44 is self-explanatory. Be it parents, students or schools, they need to follow it. I don’t think it says anything about switching schools.”

A senior official, however, revealed, “While making the circular, the board forgot to consider the prevalent conditions of our region. Unlike Chennai and other places, maximum students change schools after Class X either due to monetary concerns or relaxed attendance norms. The circular has landed parents in a tight spot and given a free hand to schools to force students to stay on. It will also unleash the trend of taking donations to give admissions. We are getting over 70 queries regarding this a day but it has to be taken at Central level.”

The instructions have hassled thousands of parents and students who were planning to switch their schools after Class X. “My son studies in an expensive school at Panchkula. After his Class X, I want him to shift to Government Model School in Chandigarh but the school has handed us the circular and categorically told that if we opt out of school then we will have no choice but to give up on the CBSE board,” said Rubina Goel, a resident of Sector 21 in Panchkula.

She is not the lone case as over 50 other parents are approaching regional office daily with the same query and the board has received several FAQ’s on the same issue. “The school of my child is forcing him to opt out of the boards and has even threatened that he will not be admitted to any CBSE school if he goes for the boards. The circular handed over to us supports their claims and when I reached the CBSE to clarify my doubts nobody helped me. A senior official in academics branch dismissed me with an advice to by the circular,” claimed a harried parent at the CBSE office, Panchkula.

According to the circular number 44 issued by the board, the school conducted the Summative Assessment II (Final exam) is applicable for all students except those leaving the CBSE board. Similarly the Summative Assessment II is applicable only for those leaving the CBSE board. The students of secondary schools (upto Class X ) will have it mandatory to go in for the boards as they have no choice but to seek admission in other schools.

Bangalore, October 6
Five years after BPO employee Pratibha Srikanthamurthy was raped and murdered, a local court here today convicted cab driver Shiva Kumar in the sensational case. The sentence will be pronounced on October eight.

Fast track court judge BV Guddali convicted Shiva Kumar of all the three charges under Section 366 (kidnap), Section 376 (rape) and Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.

The, judge, however, said the sentence would be pronounced on October 8.
Pratibha’s mother Gowramma, who has been fighting a lone battle for justice after the gruesome murder of her only daughter, broke down after hearing the court’s order and said: “He (accused) should be hanged, should be given death sentence. It should be a lesson for others not to commit such a cold blooded crime. If such persons go scot free, crimes will only increase.”

“The accused is pleading saying he has a wife and aged parents, what about me, I am all alone, my only daughter has also gone. Let us wait for October 8 and see what is the sentence. Then I will talk”, she said. “In case justice is not done, I will not keep quiet, I will fight the case in High Court”, she said.

The rape and murder of Pratibha by the cab driver employed by her firm sent shock waves through the entire BPO industry, forcing many firms to have a relook at the security of their women employees. — PTI