The Supreme Court has stayed operation of the death sentence awarded to a man convicted for raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl in Dehradun in 2018.
The apex court, which was hearing an appeal filed by the convict against the January 2020 verdict of the Uttarakhand High Court which had confirmed the death penalty awarded to him by a trial court, directed that psychological evaluation of the appellant be done and its report be placed before it.
“Issue notice of lodgment of appeal to the state of Uttarakhand, returnable on May 4, 2022,” a bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said.
“Pending further consideration, the effect and operation of death sentence awarded to the appellant shall remain stayed. Let an intimation in this regard be sent to the concerned prison immediately,” the bench, also comprising Justices S R Bhat and P S Narasimha, said in its March 2 order.
The top court said in order to have “complete assistance” in the matter, the report of the jail administration concerned about the nature of work done by the appellant while in prison be placed before it by April 25.