One affirms guilt, the other embraces grave doubt. Together, they form a striking chronicle of judicial reasoning shaped by different philosophies of criminal justice.
Koli’s counsel said this is the second instance in Indian judicial history where the Supreme Court has acquitted a death row convict after the dismissal of a review petition.
Bench questioned prolonged police custody, delay in recording statement of Nithari accused in front of magistrate, said it could've been done to ensure he 'could recite taught confession'.
The Nithari killings came to light in December 2006, when children were reported missing in the area and skeletons were later found in a drain near a house abutting the village.
SC in 2011 upheld death sentence handed to Surinder Koli by trial court in case of rape-murder of 14-yr-old girl. Koli's lawyer says will challenge death penalty in SC.
One of the cases in which Koli & Pandher were sentenced to death involves disappearance of woman who told father on day of disappearance she was going to Pandher’s home in Nithari.
In 2007, 19 cases were lodged against Pandher, his domestic help Koli. Both were sentenced to death for rape & murder. CBI filed closure reports in 3 cases due to lack of evidence.
The recent resignations of its seniormost judges are among the most pointed institutional protests Pakistan has witnessed since the lawyers’ movement of the late 2000s.
Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.
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