NAVIN AHUJA vs OFFICE OF LT. GOVERNOR OF DELHI, NCT OF DELHI & ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 30th July, 2025 Pronounced on: 22nd August, 2025 + W.P.(CRL) 730/2023 NAVIN AHUJA .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Warisha Farasat and Ms. Suvarna Swain, Advocates. versus OFFICE OF LT. GOVERNOR OF DELHI, NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Amol Sinha, ASC (Crl.) with Mr. Kshitiz Garg, Mr. Ashvini Kumar, Ms. Chavi Lazarus, Mr. Nitish Dhawan and Ms. Sanskriti Nimbekar, Advocates for State. SI Suresh Kumar, P.S. Kapashera, Delhi. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA JUDGMENT SANJEEV NARULA, J.: 1. The present petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, assails the minutes of meeting dated 14th December, 2022, of the Sentence Review Board1, and the letter dated 30th January, 2023 issued by Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, whereby the Petitioner’s request for premature release was rejected. 2. The Petitioner is a convict serving life imprisonment for conviction under Sections 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, in FIR No. 165/2005 registered at P.S. Kapashera for 1 “SRB/the board” Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(CRL) 730/2023 Page 1 of 6 By:ANITA BAITAL Signing Date:22.08.2025 18:28:56 committing the murder of his wife and two minor children. The Trial Court had convicted the Petitioner by judgment dated 22nd September, 2010, and by order dated 6th October, 2010 had sentenced him to death, subject to confirmation by this Court. In Criminal Appeal No. 1435/2010 and Death Reference No. 4/2010, this Court, by judgment dated 20th November, 2012 partly allowed the appeal, commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment. The Petitioner’s challenge to the said judgment was dismissed by the Supreme Court on 16th