"Considering the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, I am of the opinion that the case does not fall under the 'rarest of the rare' category," Sessions Judge Vrushali Joshi said pronouncing the quantum of punishment.
The court also handed over different punishments to 22-year-old Mughal for molestation and criminal trespass.
Mughal was in tears when the verdict was delivered. He requested the court to give him minimum sentence.
However, Pallavi's father Atanu Purkayastha expressed disappointment over the sentencing.
"My daughter was a strong girl and put up a brave fight, even as she was stabbed 16 times. If this is not the rarest of the rare case, then which one is ?" he told reporters later.
While her mother Sumita expressed anguish on the lifer and said that they will decide on their future course of action soon.
Special Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam dubbed the judgement as a 'strong order'.
He said the judgement means that Mughal will be required to serve rigorous imprisonment till the remainder of his life.
"We demanded death as the crime was committed after previous planning and brutally executed by slitting her throat," said Nikam adding the court might have considered his young age while awarding the minimum sentence.
Nikam also said that if after going through the order copy, the prosecution feels that the there is any scope of fetching capital punishment for the accused, then they will move the Bombay High Court.
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