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News Topical, Digital Desk : The Bombay High Court has reduced the life sentence of a man convicted of raping a minor girl to 12 years in prison. The court imposed this sentence considering his young age, lengthy imprisonment, and reform efforts within the prison system, which included participating in an essay program on Mahatma Gandhi.
A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Sandesh Patil, in its February 2 order, upheld the man's conviction for the 2016 crime but said the life sentence awarded to him should be reduced.
Life imprisonment was challenged
The bench passed the order on the convict's appeal, challenging the life sentence awarded by a special POCSO court. The court noted that the convict was 20 years old at the time of the crime, had no prior criminal record, had been in custody since December 2016, and had not been released even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bench also considered his certificates of participation in prison educational activities, which included an essay competition and a programme studying the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi.
'12 years' imprisonment will be enough for justice'
Taking into account these mitigating factors in light of the gravity of the offence, the bench said, "In our opinion, a sentence of 12 years would meet the ends of justice." It further said that the time already spent in jail by the convict would be adjusted towards the reduced sentence.
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