Judge Alleges Case Transfers Favor Criminals
In a recent development from Uttar Pradesh, Additional Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has expressed serious concerns over the transfer of approximately 100 criminal cases from his jurisdiction. According to Judge Diwakar, this administrative decision by the Muzaffarnagar District and Sessions Judge appears to be aimed at shielding criminals, mafia, and gangsters.
Judge Diwakar, known for his stringent rulings, has notably sentenced 23 individuals to death across 11 cases in recent months. Following these actions, a significant number of murder cases, totaling 97, were reassigned away from his court just last month.
Judge Diwakar’s Statements
In a statement written in Hindi, Judge Diwakar expressed his dismay at these developments, suggesting an ulterior motive behind the transfers. While he refrained from directly criticizing the transfer order, he implied that it may have been carried out to protect influential criminal entities.
Judge Diwakar stated, “I do not know whether the people who treated me this way believe in God or not, but when they look into their conscience regarding their treatment of me, they will never be able to forgive themselves. A person can fool the world, but not their own conscience. Such behavior was intended to protect mafias/gangsters/criminals. I possess complete information as to why this transpired, but it would be inappropriate to speak out now given the decorum of my post.”
Resolute in the Face of Threats
Despite receiving threats of transfer after the reassignment of cases, Judge Diwakar remains steadfast in his commitment to justice. He acknowledged the presence of caste and political patronage that some criminals enjoy in Western Uttar Pradesh, but emphasized his resolve to fear only God.
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He remarked, “If I were to fear powers such as mafias/strongmen/criminals, it would be appropriate for me to resign from this sacred judicial institution. I would rather die than be called a cowardly judge. I will serve as long as I can adhere to my principles; otherwise, I shall resign. As long as I occupy the judge’s chair, the authority to decide/adjudicate rests solely with me.”
Judicial Actions and Observations
Judge Diwakar made these comments while delivering a death sentence to Nadeem, convicted of murdering his wife by setting her ablaze in 2018. The Court described the brutality of using fire as a medium of death, emphasizing the necessity of the death penalty to deter such heinous acts.
Additionally, the Court advised the State to ensure that if serious cases are transferred without cause, the District Government Counsel (Criminal) should be allowed to present their arguments to prevent forum shopping by criminals.
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Crime in Muzaffarnagar
Reflecting on Muzaffarnagar’s crime history, the Court agreed with the government’s assertion that measures like encounters, property attachments, and preventive detentions have helped combat crime in the district. The judge highlighted the past influence of criminal gangs and the role of political patronage in the region’s notoriety as the ‘Crime Capital’.
