Latest news with #SantoshKumarSingh
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Mental Health, Victim Input Must Be Part Of Premature Release Decisions': Delhi High Court
The bench was ruling on petitions challenging the denial of early release to convicts, including one filed by Santosh Kumar Singh, convicted in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case In a judgement concerning the administration of criminal justice and the rights of convicts, the Delhi High Court has recommended sweeping reforms in the framework governing premature release of life convicts. The single bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula, while ruling on a batch of petitions challenging the denial of early release to convicts, including one filed by Santosh Kumar Singh, convicted in the infamous 1996 Priyadarshini Mattoo rape and murder case, flagged serious procedural gaps in the functioning of the Sentence Review Board (SRB). The court held that decisions on premature release must align with constitutional imperatives of fairness, non-arbitrariness, and reasoned decision-making. It observed that the current system lacks structural integrity and fails to reflect a substantive evaluation of a convict's reformative progress. Lack of Mental Health Evaluation 'Significant Shortcoming' The court found that the current framework under the Delhi Prison Rules (DPR) does not mandate formal psychological assessments by mental health professionals, a flaw the Court described as 'significant". 'A convict's transformation into a potentially reformed individual cannot be meaningfully evaluated without examining the underlying psychological trajectory," the court said. To address this, the court issued a set of binding guidelines recommending that the Delhi government and the department of prisons expeditiously institutionalise the involvement of qualified clinical psychologists and psychiatrists in the SRB process. It directed that psychological evaluations be formally incorporated either through amendments to the DPR or via administrative guidelines. The court emphasised that while the input of probation officers is valuable, it must be supplemented by expert psychological opinion, particularly in cases where the risk of reoffending is central to the decision. Inclusion of Victim's Perspective Must Be Standardised Highlighting the inconsistent implementation of 'victim response" in the current Social Welfare Department format, the court directed the GNCTD to evolve a structured protocol to incorporate victims' perspectives in a sensitive, time-bound, and trauma-informed manner. Where such input cannot be gathered despite reasonable efforts, the Social Welfare Officer must provide a reasoned explanation, and the SRB must document how any victim response was received and considered. SRB's Orders Must Be Reasoned and Non-Mechanical The court was hearing petitions filed by convicts serving life sentences in four separate cases. The petitioners, including Santosh Kumar Singh, had challenged the rejection of their premature release pleas by the SRB, arguing that the decisions were mechanical, lacked application of mind, and failed to account for their conduct during incarceration. In Singh's case, the court found that although the Social Welfare Department had made a favourable recommendation, the SRB failed to acknowledge or reconcile this with the opposing police report. The impugned decision showed no effort to evaluate Singh's positive post-conviction record, including his advanced educational qualifications and participation in prison rehabilitation programmes. 'Thus, in the opinion of this Court, the impugned decision of the SRB cannot be sustained. The rejection order neither discloses a meaningful application of mind nor does it reflect a reasoned analysis of the reformative efforts made by the Petitioner," the court said. The court set aside the SRB's orders in three out of the four petitions, including Singh's, and remanded them back for fresh consideration in accordance with the new directions. In one petition, however, the court upheld the SRB's decision. In doing so, the court stressed that the current functioning of the SRB requires both procedural and substantive overhaul to ensure fairness and transparency. Sukriti Mishra Sukriti Mishra, a Lawbeat correspondent, graduated in 2022 and worked as a trainee journalist for 4 months, after which she picked up on the nuances of reporting well. She extensively covers courts in Delhi.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt to send investigation team to Telangana after factory blast kills two from state
1 2 3 Patna: At least two workers from Bihar died and 16 were injured in the explosion at Sigachi chemical factory in Sangareddy district of Telangana on Monday, labour resources minister Santosh Kumar Singh said on Tuesday, adding an investigation team from the department will be sent to the southern state. Of the 36 deaths so far, only four bodies could be identified till Tuesday evening as most of the victims were charred to death. One of the Bihar deceased was identified as Abhishek Kumar. According to sources, four workers from Amartha village under Karakat police station in Rohtas district were among those who were either missing or injured in the blast. One Dabloo Paswan among them was seriously injured while Dilip Gosai, Naga Paswan and Deepak Paswan were still missing. At a press conference, the minister said the state govt will pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 assistance to each injured. The state team will inspect the chemical factory in the Pashamylaram industrial area where the explosion occurred and assess the situation of migrant workers residing there. The govt will take further action upon receiving the report from the investigation team. "We will ensure through the investigation that no major negligence was committed by the factory in this accident. If significant negligence is found on the factory's part, the matter will be discussed with both the Telangana and central govts," the minister said, adding that this is the first time the Bihar govt is sending its team to another state to investigate such an accident. The chief minister has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the dependents of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Additionally, the Prime Minister has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the dependents of all the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The minister said that the dept had started a Bihar Pravasi Kamgar app in March. "Till now, there has been registration of six lakh labourers outside the state," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
United News of India
4 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
A team from Bihar will probe chemical factory blast in Telangana: Minister
Patna, July 1 (UNI) Taking serious note of the recent chemical factory explosion in the industrial area of Sangareddy district, Telangana, which claimed the lives of two workers from Bihar and left 16 others injured, the Bihar government has constituted a special team to examine the circumstances surrounding the blast. Bihar Labour Resources Minister Santosh Kumar Singh told media here today that a special investigation team constituted by the Bihar government will soon arrive in Telangana to examine the situation causing the explosion. Singh said this marks the first time that a state government is sending an investigation team to another state following the death of migrant workers in an industrial accident. The team will include experts and will thoroughly examine whether the explosion was the result of gross negligence on the part of the factory management. 'If any major negligence is found, it will be raised before both the Telangana government and the Centre,' said Singh. The minister added that the Bihar government has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the 16 injured workers. The mortal remains of the deceased were expected to reach Patna by this evening and will be transported to their native villages with state assistance, he said. Singh also congratulated Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the cabinet's approval of the Mukhyamantri Pratigya Yojana. He stated that Bihar has become the first state in India to take such a progressive step to boost employment opportunities for its youth. He highlighted that the lack of work experience has been a major hurdle for Bihari youth in securing jobs in other states. Under the new scheme, 1.05 lakh youths will be connected to internship programs over the next five years. The state government has allocated Rs 685 crore for the implementation of the initiative. UNI RS PRS
India Gazette
4 days ago
- India Gazette
Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case: Delhi HC directs SRB to consider afresh Santosh Singh's plea for premature release
ANI 01 Jul 2025, 12:40 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside the order of the Sentence Review Board (SRB) and directed it to consider afresh the plea of life convict Santosh Kumar Singh. His plea for premature release was declined by the SRB. He was convicted and awarded a death sentence by the Delhi High Court for the murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo on January 16, 1996. The Supreme Court later commuted his sentence. Santosh is the son of a former inspector general of police. Justice Sanjeev Narula set aside the recommendation of the SRB and remanded the matter for consideration afresh. 'I have seen some reformation in the petitioner,' Justice Narula said while pronouncing the order. The High Court has also given some directions for the consideration of the matter for premature release by the sentence review board. He had challenged the order of the SRB in 2023. Priyadarshini Mattoo was found dead in her house. A case of rape and murder was registered. Santosh Singh was acquitted by the trial court in 1999, leading to a huge hue and cry. The prosecution had then appealed against the acquittal in 2000. The Delhi High Court had heard the matter. He was sentenced to death by the Delhi High Court on October 30, 2006. His death sentence was commuted to a life sentence by the Supreme Court in October 2010. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Priyadarshini Mattoo rape and murder: Rapist-killer seeks release; Delhi HC verdict likely today
NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court is likely to decide on Tuesday the plea for premature release filed by Santosh Kumar Singh , who is serving a life term for the 1996 rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo . Justice Sanjeev Narula, after hearing submissions from the state and Singh, reserved the order on his plea on May 14. In his 2023 petition, Singh sought the quashing of the recommendation of Sentence Review Board (SRB) of Delhi prisons, which rejected his premature release in a meeting held on Oct 21, 2021. Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Singh, previously argued that his client was sentenced to a life term and already underwent 25 years of incarceration, including remission. Mathur stated that Singh's conduct was satisfactory, indicating reformation and the fact that he lost every potential to commit a crime in the future. He would be a useful member of society, and for the past several years, he has been in an open jail, the counsel submitted. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi It came to the court's notice that another SRB meeting was held on Sept 18, 2024, and his case was again rejected for premature release. Mattoo, 25, was raped and murdered in Jan 1996. Singh, a law student at Delhi University, was acquitted by the trial court on Dec 3, 1999, but Delhi High Court, on Oct 27, 2006, overruled the decision, holding him guilty of rape and murder and awarded him the death penalty. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Singh, the son of a former IPS officer, challenged the punishment. In Oct 2010, Supreme Court upheld Singh's conviction but commuted his capital punishment to life imprisonment. The high court granted Singh three weeks' parole in 2019 to appear for the LLM examination after he completed the first branch of LLM in 2014 and took admission in the second branch..
