Synopsis
On March 12, Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, remitted the life sentences of three convicts under the old Ranbir Penal Code. This decision, effective immediately, comes with strict conditions to maintain peace and report to the police biannually.Key Takeaways
- Remission granted for three convicts under RPC.
- Effective immediately with strict conditions.
- Convicts must maintain peace and report to police.
- Authorities will monitor their activities.
- Old penal laws have been replaced by new legislation.
Jammu, March 12 (NationPress) The Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Manoj Sinha, has announced the remission of life sentences for three individuals who were convicted under various provisions of the antiquated Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), specifically sections 302, 34, and 201, according to officials.
Officials further revealed that the remission order has been officially communicated by the J&K Home Department.
A formal notification from the J&K Home Department indicated that this remission has been granted under Section 473 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, following the guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The order is effective immediately, subject to stringent conditions.
According to the notification, the individuals released must uphold peace, avoid illegal activities, and not intimidate the families of the victims.
They are also mandated to report to the police biannually and fulfill all legal requirements prior to their release.
Local police have been directed to oversee their conduct, with a warning that any breach will result in the revocation of their remission.
The convicts, Anil Singh from Shastri Nagar, Jammu, Dev Raj from Chak Jaffray, Kana Chak, Jammu, and Girdhari Lal from Mangnar, Poonch, had served between 14 and 16 years of their life sentences before receiving this remission.
It is noteworthy that the colonial-era penal laws were primarily designed for punishment and government revenue collection through monetary penalties.
The newly enacted laws, which replace both the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), focus more on reform rather than punishment or financial penalties.
Community service for convicts plays a significant role in the revised criminal laws.
Additionally, it is important to note that the RPC, established during the reign of Maharajas, was concurrently in effect in J&K, alongside the IPC.
Both of these outdated legal frameworks have been abolished.
