Mangaluru Court sentences man to death for sexual assault, murder of minor girl
Mangaluru: The Additional District and Sessions Court (FTSC-2 POCSO), Mangaluru, on Friday sentenced Fakirappa Hanumappa Madar (58), a resident of Hanchinal village in Savadatti taluk, Belagavi district, to death for sexually assaulting and brutally murdering a minor girl.
The victim, originally from Chunchanur village in Belagavi, was a Class 9 student at Morarji Desai Residential School, Konaje. On August 6, 2024, when her uncle was away for work and his wife had gone to her native place, the girl was left alone at their house. Taking advantage of the situation, the accused, who lived in the adjoining rented house, trespassed into the residence, sexually assaulted her, bit her face, and later strangled her with a cloth before fleeing. The case was registered at Panambur police station.
Following his arrest, the trial was conducted before Judge K.S. Manu, who found Fakirappa guilty and awarded him the death penalty under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder. Additionally, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 under Section 4(2) of the POCSO Act, with four months of simple imprisonment in default of payment. Under Section 332(A) of the BNS (trespass), he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000, with four months’ simple imprisonment in default.
The court also directed that Rs 1 lakh from the fine amount be given to the girl’s parents, along with an additional compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the District Legal Services Authority, totaling Rs 5 lakh.
Inspector Muhammad Saleem Abbas of Panambur investigated the case and filed the charge sheet. Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boluru represented the State.
Key Evidence:
A day before her death, the victim had called her mother using a neighbour woman’s phone, saying she was unwell. The next day, when the mother again called on the same number, the neighbour and another woman went to hand over the phone to the girl and reportedly saw Fakirappa inside the house. These two women turned into eyewitnesses in court, while 16 others were examined as circumstantial witnesses.
Forensic evidence also confirmed the crime, with the victim’s blood samples matching the stains found on the accused’s clothes. Bite marks on the girl’s face matched the dental impression of the accused. Together, the eyewitness accounts, circumstantial evidence, and forensic reports led to the conviction and harsh sentencing.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
