District Judge Talwant, Singh while awarding life term to Delhi resident Bharat, ruled out the possibility of awarding capital punishment saying, from the facts and circumstances, present case does not qualify the "notoriety" of being rarest of rare cases.
"Only alternative available with the court for murder is life imprisonment. Accordingly, convict Bharat is awarded life imprisonment and fine of Rs 25,000 for the offence punishable under section 302 (murder) of IPC," the judge said.
"Imposition of appropriate punishment is the manner in which the courts respond to the society's cry for justice against the criminals. Justice demands that courts should impose punishment befitting the crime so that the courts reflect public abhorrence of the crime," the judge said.
The court said that out of the fine amount, Rs 20,000 shall be paid to the wife of the deceased and directed that since an earning member of a family has been lost, District Legal Service Authority (East) should pay appropriate compensation to the dependents.
"The oral evidence is duly corroborated by the medical and expert evidence, the evidence of recoveries and extra judicial confession. I accordingly hold accused Bharat guilty for committing murder of deceased Vinod and convict him for offence under section 302(murder) of IPC," the judge had said.