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A bench led by CJI U.U. Lalit, reiterated the necessity of evaluating the psychological aspects of a convict on death row
Recently, a bench of Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit, Justice S Ravindra Bhatt and Justice Bela M Trivedi has reiterated the necessity of evaluating psychological aspects of a convict on death row.
Supreme Court has been instrumental in deciphering the life trajectory of convicts. While mandating that guidelines are to be adhered to for convicts in Bachan Singh in May this year, a Bench led by CJI U.U. Lalit framed practical guidelines for the courts to adopt and implement for conviction of offenses punishable with death sentence.
Further, court was of the opinion that an analysis of the behaviour and conduct of the convict should also be kept in the purview. And that the mitigating factors should be looked into, in order to draw a possibility of commutation of sentence.
The bench was of the opinion that the assessment of the conduct of convict, before a finalisation is reached at, will help and go a long way. And therefore further opined that, "...in series of death sentence cases, this Court has been passing certain directions so that psychological evaluation of the concerned convict can be ascertained.
"Since the appellant(s) have been awarded death sentence, in our view, facets of the matter touching upon the character and behaviour of the appellant(s) would be essential in order to have complete assessment in the matter", Court added further. Resultantly, the bench passed appropriate directions in pursuance of the same.
The Court has directed jail Administration to furnish details about the nature of the work done by the appellant(s) while in jail and has asked the Director/Head, Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra to constitute a suitable team for psychological evaluation of the accused/appellant(s) in these cases and send a report before the next date of hearing, among other directions.
In the pertinent matter the appeals were admitted in 2020 and the execution of death sentence of the petitioner was stayed.
Case Title: Prakash Vishwanath Darandale vs. The State of Maharashtra
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