#mitigating circumstances

The Allahabad High Court reduced a dowry-death life sentence to ten years, insisting that any deviation from the statutory term must be supported by a reasoned assessment of mitigating factors. Other convictions stand, and the decision mandates explicit justification for reduced sentences under Sec 304B IPC.

Calcutta High Court overturned a death sentence, ruling that failure to record 'special reasons' under Section 354(3) CrPC and disregard for mitigating factors render the sentence unconstitutional. The judgment underscores that reliance on uncorroborated, politically aligned testimony violates evidentiary standards and due process, setting a precedent for stricter judicial scrutiny in capital punishment cases.