+

GOVERNOR INTERVENES, DEATH SENTENCE OF INDEPENDENT INDIA’S FIRST WOMAN MAY BE CHANGED TO LIFE

A new twist has come in the case of Shabnam of Amroha, who is set to become the first woman in the country to be sentenced to death. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has now intervened in the case. After considering the application of Sahar Naqvi, a woman lawyer of the Allahabad High Court, seeking […]

A new twist has come in the case of Shabnam of Amroha, who is set to become the first woman in the country to be sentenced to death. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has now intervened in the case.

After considering the application of Sahar Naqvi, a woman lawyer of the Allahabad High Court, seeking to commute Shabnam›s death sentence to life imprisonment on humanitarian grounds, the Governor has transferred it to the UP government to take an appropriate decision. The letter of the Governor›s instructions has also been sent to the Principal Secretary, Prisons Department of UP.

Sahar Naqvi had sent a letter to the UP Governor recently, interfering in the death sentence of Shabnam, who was convicted in the case of killing seven members of her own family. There was an appeal to be converted into imprisonment. After considering this application of Sahar Naqvi, Anandiben Patel sent it to the UP government to take an appropriate decision. 

The Governor›s Secretariat has also sent a formal letter in this regard to the Principal Secretary of the Prisons Department of the state. It is clearly written in the letter that after observing the points raised in the application of Principal Secretary Advocate Sahar Naqvi, take a proper decision on it as per the law. Badri Nath Singh, special secretary to the governor, has sent the information about the transfer of the case to the UP government through a letter to advocate Sahar Naqvi.

Sahar Naqvi wrote in the application sent to the Governor that till date no woman has been hanged in independent India. If she is hanged, then the image of India will be spoiled, because the country has an old tradition of worshiping and honouring women like goddesses. According to her, she is not raising any question about Shabnam›s crime or his punishment. 

Rather, it wants that his death sentence should be converted to life imprisonment. It was also argued in the application that the hanging of Shabnam may have a negative impact on her only son, Taj alias Bittu, who was born in jail.

The death sentences of Shabnam, who was a teacher in Amroha district, and her lover Saleem were upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2015 for killing seven members of her family, including her 10-month-old nephew.

Tags: