Petition against death sentence dismissed

Allahabad, Sep 13 (uni) A writ petition filed by People's Union For Civil Liberty (PUCL) demanding the authorities not to execute the death penalty of a convict accused for raping and murdering a four-year old girl in Bulandshahr, was dismissed in limine today by a division bench of the Allahabad High Court.

The bench, comprising Justice M C Jain and Justice K K Mishra dismissed the case after hearing the petitioner and additional government advocate.

The accused Sanjay was convicted in the case and was sentenced capital punishment by the District and Sessions Judge, Bulandshahr for raping a 4 year old girl and murdering her in 2004 in Bulandshahr.

The appeal against death penalty did not find favour with the Allahabad High Court and accordingly, it was dismissed.The Supreme Court also confirmed the verdict of death sentence passed by the trial court as well as the High Court.

The convict is currently lodged in Agra jail and was due to be hanged at Meerut district jail on September 11, 2006, but it appears that due to filing of the mercy petition before the President of India, the hanging order could not be effected.

An attempt was again made by PUCL by the writ petition to keep the hanging order in abeyance till the disposal of the mercy petition before the President of India.

UNI XC-JL ATI VD DB2052