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Murder

Bombay High Court to Decide Fate of Two Death Row Convicts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Bombay high court has concluded the hearing and is set to decide the fate of two death row convicts, sisters Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit, who have been in custody since October 22, 1996. The sisters, convicted of kidnapping 14 children and murdering five of them in 2001, have petitioned the high court to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment citing an "unjustified delay" by authorities in dealing with their mercy petitions. The hearing, which concluded on Saturday, will soon lead to a decision on their fate.

Key Takeaways:

  • The sisters, Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit, were tried for kidnapping 14 children and murdering five of them in 1996 and were convicted in 2001.
  • The high court confirmed their death sentence in 2004, and the Supreme Court upheld it in 2006.
  • The sisters have been in custody since October 22, 1996, and have filed multiple mercy petitions.
  • The counsel for the sisters, Aniket Vagal, argued that the unreasonable delay in dealing with their mercy petitions has violated their right to life.
  • The public prosecutor, Aruna Pai, opposed the petition, stating that death cannot be set aside looking at the gravity and heinousness of the offense.
  • The high court bench asked the public prosecutor to clarify on whether the state government has powers to not commute the life imprisonment.
  • The sisters have filed multiple mercy petitions, with the last one being rejected by the President on July 7, 2014.
  • The Centre's counsel, Sandesh Patil, stated that there was no delay on part of the Centre, citing a policy to avoid conflicts and send mercy petitions of both accused in the same case together.

Statistics:

  • The sisters have been in custody since October 22, 1996.
  • 14 children were kidnapped, and 5 were murdered in the case.
  • The high court confirmed the death sentence in 2004.
  • The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in 2006.
  • The sisters have filed multiple mercy petitions, with the last one being rejected on July 7, 2014.
  • The Centre communicated the rejection to the state on August 4, 2014.

Sources:

  • [The Times of India - Does Bombay High Court have the power to cancel death sentence?](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/91217040.cms)
  • [The Hindu - Bombay High Court to decide on plea of two sisters on death row](https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-to-decide-on-plea-of-two-sisters-on-death-row/article30192158.ece)
  • [Business Standard - Bombay High Court to decide on mercy petition of 2 sisters on death row](https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bombay-high-court-to-decide-on-mercy-petition-of-2-sisters-on-death-row-119060301001_1.html)

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