New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside the Sentence Review Board’s (SRB) decision rejecting the plea for premature release of Santosh Kumar Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1996 rape and murder of 25-year-old law student Priyadarshini Mattoo.
While pronouncing the verdict, Justice Sanjeev Narula said, “The Court has found elements of reformation in him. The SRB decision is set aside, and I have referred the matter back to the SRB for fresh consideration.”
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Justice Narula also laid down certain guidelines for the SRB to follow while assessing similar cases in the future. Notably, the court held that the SRB, which handles sensitive cases involving the premature release of long-term prisoners, must include a psychological assessment of the convict in its consideration process. It was not taken in Singh’s case.
Singh had approached the court in 2023, challenging the SRB’s October 21, 2021, decision rejecting his premature release. He later amended his plea to include the SRB’s June 30, 2023, decision, which also denied his request.
Singh’s counsel argued that he had already served over 25 years in prison, including the period accounted for by remission, and that his continued incarceration served no further purpose. The plea contended that Singh had been in an open jail for the past four years and would be a useful member of society if released.
During the hearing, the court was informed that another SRB meeting held on September 18, 2024 also resulted in Singh’s plea being rejected.
The Priyadarshini Mattoo Case
A Kashmiri Pandit, Priyadarshini Mattoo was raised in Srinagar. She moved to Jammu with her family after increasing militancy in Kashmir. Following a degree in BCom, Priyadarshini pursued an LLB degree in Delhi University.
During her time there, Santosh Singh, a senior in the college, reportedly made indecent proposals to her. He began stalking and harassing her for several years. In 1995, Priyadarshini filed a complaint against him. She was provided with a personal security officer at the time.
Priyadarshini Mattoo (image-X/thelawprof)
In retaliation, Singh lodged a complaint at the university alleging she was pursuing two degrees at the same, which turned to be false. Priyadarshini has already earned MCom in 1991. Despite her filing several FIRs against him, nothing happened.
On 23 January 1996, Singh was seen knocking at the door of Priyadarshini’s uncle’s Vasant Kunj house, where she stayed. He reportedly entered the house wanting a compromise in their legal complaints.
She was later found raped and murdered at the house. The law student was struck 14 times with a motorcycle helmet and then strangled with a wire. Her face was battered beyond recognition.
The case gained notoriety since Singh was the son of JP Singh, a former IPS officer. During the trial, his father served as the Joint Commissioer of Police in Delhi, where the crime was committed.
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Santosh Singh (image-X/thelawprof)
The Delhi Police was heavily criticised for their “deliberate inaction” with allegations of JP Singh possibly having used his official position the influence the investigating agencies. The accused was acquitted by a trial court on December 3, 1999. However, the Delhi High Court overturned the acquittal on October 27, 2006, finding Singh guilty of rape and murder and sentencing him to death.
Singh later challenged the conviction and the sentence. In October 2010, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction but commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment.
The High Court’s latest decision does not grant Singh immediate release but sends his case back to the SRB for a fresh review under the revised guidelines.
