Priyadarshini Mattoo Case: Delhi High Court Finds 'Element Of Reformation' In Life Convict, Orders Review Of Plea For Early Release

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside a decision of the Sentence Review Board (SRB) of Delhi Prisons denying the request for premature release made by Santosh Kumar Singh, convicted in the 1996 rape and murder case of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo in the national capital.

Singh is serving life imprisonment in the case.

Justice Sanjeev Narula pronounced the order which was reserved on May 14.

“The Court has found elements of reformation in him (Singh). I have set aside the SRB decision and have referred the matter back to SRB for fresh consideration,” the Court said.

The convict had moved the plea in 2023 whereby he challenged the recommendation of the SRB.

Justice Narula said that the judgment has laid down certain guidelines to be followed by the SRB of Delhi Prisons.

The Court said that the current framework of SRB does not contemplate a formal psychological evaluation of a convict by a competent medical professional. It added that in such a situation, it is difficult for the SRB to take an informed assessment as to whether a convict has lost the propensity to commit the crime.

The Court has said that a mechanism must be evolved and psychological assessment of convicts must be conducted before a decision is taken by SRB.

Mattoo, 25 at the date of incident, was raped and murdered at her flat in the national capital in January 1996. Singh, the convict, was a law student of the Delhi University. He was acquitted by the trial court on December 03, 1999 for lack of evidence.

However, the Delhi High Court on October 27, 2006, overruled the decision and held him guilty of rape and murder of Mattoo. He was awarded death penalty which was challenged by him.

The Supreme Court in 2010 upheld Singh's conviction but commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Mohit Mathur, Senior

Advocate with Mr. Amitabh Narendra, Mr. Amod Singh and Mr. Vignesh, Advocates

Counsel for Respondent: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC with Mr. Arjit Sharma and Mr. Nikunj Bindal, Advocates

Title: SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH v. STATE (GOVT. OF THE NCT) OF DELHI