Nirbhaya Case Summary: State Vs Ram Singh & Ors [AIR SC 2595]

This Case summary is written by Srikamal Gangarupam. He is an intern under the content team Legal Thirst and he did commendable work in this case summary.

Introduction

The murder and rape incident which shattered the Entire Nation in 2012 took place on 16 December 2012. This is the case in which a 23-Year- old Female was Assaulted and Gang-raped and brutalized on a bus on which the girl and her male friend boarded. Eventually, after the incident and a lot of fearless fights with her life, she passed away. She left the world leaving a lot of questions to society and the legal fraternity. This case State vs RamSingh and others AIRSC 2595 was headed by Three judge bench comprising Justice Dipak Mishra, JusticeAshok Bhushan, Justice Bhanumati. Let’s see what were the facts of the case, arguments placed by petitioners, and respondents, critical appraisal, and judgment of the court.

Facts of the Case

The incident took place on 16-12-2012. As the complainant and his friend, The prosecutrix, Had gone to watch a movie in PVR, Saket, New Delhi They came out of the Theatre at about 8:30 pm.
They reached Munirka Bus stand at 9 pm in an Auto, boarded a white-colored chartered bus by its conductor. They saw four boys in the driver’s cabin and two boys sitting behind the driver’s cabin Both complainant and the prosecutrix sat on the left side second seat in the bus and paid the fare of Rs.20/-.
As the bus reached near Airport Flyover, Three boys came out of the driver’s cabin. Two of them started abusing the complainant while he was taking prosecutrix in the night.
One of them hit the complainant. As the complainant resisted, Two other boys joined beating with it on rods lying on the bus.
As the prosecutor came forward to save the complainant was caught and being beaten. The other assailants took their turn to have sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix. They brutally ravished her by raping her; Doing unnatural sex and also damaged her internal organs and genitals by inserting iron rods.
The assailants robbed the complainant of his mobile phone and his wallet containing Rs 1000/-; his bank cards also similarly robbed the mobile phone of the prosecutrix, her ATM card, which were all robbed.
The assailants brought them to the front door and threw them out of the moving bus at National Highway No.8 near Mahipal our flyover by the side of the road.
They both were noticed by passersby. Police were informed and they were brought to Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi for their Medical examination.
But later, Due to several Medical complications, the prosecutrix Died on 29/12/2012.

Issues

Whether convicts are guilty of charges of Section 120(B), section 365, section 366, section 307, section 376(2)(g), section 396, section 302 IPC, 395IPC, 397IPC, section 201 IPC, section 412 IPC.
Whether a juvenile can be convicted with charges as same as adult.
Death penalty or Life imprisonment.

Arguments from the Petitioner Side

Considering the young age of the convict The punishment should be reduced to term imprisonment or reform in a Juvenile home.
Judges should not rely upon the DNA report, they pleaded that DNA profiling might vary due to blood transfusion while undergoing treatment.
Convicts Pawan Kumar and Vinay Sharma keep on pleading that they were not present on the bus during the incident same were supported by their family members.
The convicts have a clean history.
The convicts are intoxicated during the incident.
In poor economic conditions, they cannot hire a good legal advisor.
Convicts have a family who is dependent on them.

Contentions of the Respondents

The counsel pleaded that there is enough evidence to penalize all the convicts.
This crime falls under the category of ‘rarest of the rare cases.
Prosecutors demanded the death penalty for all convicts and pleaded not to show any mercy as they may become repeat offenders also not a good message to society.
It is done against society, morality so the death sentence is the only remedy

Judgment of the Court

The Supreme court upheld Delhi High Court, and the Trial Court’s decision to grant the Death penalty to the Remaining four convicts. Ram Singh, the fifth accused committed suicide in Tihar jail, while the sixth one being a minor granted three years in – a correction facility by the juvenile justice board.

The court relied upon the following judgments in the case:

Purushottam Dashrath Borate and Anr. Vs State of Maharashtra.
Ramsingh vs Sonia and ORS
Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab.
Devender Pal Singh vs State.

Convicts are penalized with the charges of Section 120(B), section 365 IPC, section 366 IPC, section 307 IPC, section 376(2)(g), section 396 IPC and section 302 IPC, 395IPC, 397IPC, section 201 IPC, section 412 IPC.

Critical analysis

This case is a turning point in the Indian legal System and the Justice Verma Committee was suggested to enlarge the meaning of rape. Crimes like Acid attacks and sexual harassment should also be treated as a serious offenses.

Section 326 A(9),section 326B(10),section 354B(12) included in the Criminal law Amendment Act(2013).
Limitation Act was passed stating that minors between 16-18 years of age. If involved in any crime, shall be tried as an adult in cases of heinous offense.
Even though After such a path-breaking incident and preventive steps from Government, India still witnessing a large number of Rape cases and sexual harassment.
Victims of these cases should be respected and should not disrespect through any media platforms.
Fast track courts should dispose of these cases at a fast rate with Justice for the victim also should save the court time.
Serious penalties at a fast rate will create fear among repeated offenders.
The fund allocated In the name of Nirbhaya fund should be used efficiently in every possible manner providing transport facility from office to home during the night hours and providing call centers with a team to monitor the same 24×7 and Giving self-defense training by well-trained professionals.
This change is just a preventive measure the change should come within us and in society.

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