HC Stays Rape-murder Convict Dharampal's Execution Till April 10

Punjab and Haryana high court on Saturday stayed execution of a rape-murder convict, Dharampal Singh (45) (in Ambala central jail) till April 10. The decision came from a division bench comprising justice AK Mittal and justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia on a petition filed by an NGO.

Lawyers for Human Rights International through advocate Navkiran Singh. The court also issued notice of motion to the Haryana government so as to file its reply by April 10.

Dharampal is a resident of Shahpur Turk in Sonepat district of Haryana. President of India Pranab Mukherjee had on March 28 turned down Dharampal’s mercy plea in a rape case of 1991 in which he had later murdered the rape victim’s five family members in 1993. He was sentenced to death by Sonepat sessions court on May 5, 1997.

On the rape victim’s complaint, Dharampal was earlier awarded 10 year imprisonment on January 7, 1991. But later, when he was out on parole in 1993, he along with his brother Nirmal Singh had murdered the rape victim’s father, mother, two brothers and a sister in the wee hours of June 4, 1993. However, the victim and her husband were able to save their lives.

Dharampal was on April 5 transferred from Rohtak jail to Ambala central jail for his execution on April 15.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times