The Supreme Court on Wednesday invalidated the Allahabad High Court’s decision that modified the sentences of three individuals convicted of murder, declaring the process as “totally untenable.” Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih criticized the High Court’s reinterpretation of the case under Section 362 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits any court from altering a judgment once signed, except to rectify clerical errors.
The controversy began with a 2018 High Court ruling which confirmed the life sentences for murder under Section 302 of the IPC after a trial court found the individuals guilty. However, in a surprising turn in 2019, the High Court revisited its decision on appeal from the convicted, downgrading their conviction to culpable homicide under Section 304 Part II of IPC and reducing their sentences—10 years for one and five years for the others.
The Supreme Court’s review came following appeals by the complainant, who challenged the High Court’s authority to amend a final judgment. The apex court underscored that the High Court’s decision to alter its original ruling was not only unusual but also legally unsustainable.
“The procedure adopted by the high court was totally untenable,” stated the Supreme Court bench, reinforcing the sanctity of the legal principles laid down in Section 362 of the CrPC. The bench emphasized that the High Court had overstepped its bounds by revising a finalized judgment without the presence of any clerical mistakes to warrant such a review.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court quashed the 2019 High Court order and reinstated the original convictions. The accused were ordered to surrender to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Jaunpur within four weeks to serve the remainder of their life sentences. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court allowed the accused the option to challenge the 2018 judgment, ensuring their right to appeal was preserved.
