Judicial authorities in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, recalled 97 murder case files from Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravikumar Diwakar [2].
The move follows a period of unusually high capital sentencing that has drawn scrutiny from higher judicial officials. The transfer of cases suggests a systemic review of sentencing patterns within the district court.
Judge Diwakar handed down 22 death sentences within a four-month period [1]. This volume of death orders prompted the decision to shift the pending murder cases to another court to ensure judicial consistency.
District and Sessions Judge Virendra Kumar Singh received the transferred files [1]. The direction to recall the cases was dated Aug. 18, 2024 [4]. While some reports describe the number of shifted cases as nearly 100 [3], official records specify 97 case files [2].
The recall affects only the pending murder cases previously assigned to Diwakar. The judicial authorities have not released a detailed statement regarding the specific legal errors or concerns that triggered the mass transfer of files.
Muzaffarnagar is a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where these proceedings took place [1]. The shift of cases to Judge Singh marks a significant administrative intervention in the local judiciary.
“Judge Diwakar handed down 22 death sentences within a four-month period”
The mass recall of cases indicates that the high frequency of death sentences issued by a single judge was viewed as a statistical anomaly or a potential deviation from judicial norms. By transferring nearly 100 cases to a different judge, the court is likely attempting to mitigate the risk of future appeals based on sentencing bias or procedural irregularity, ensuring that capital punishment is applied with extreme caution and consistency.
