Muzaffarnagar judge's cases transferred after 22 death sentences

death penalty judicial transfer Muzaffarnagar capital punishment Uttar Pradesh

Nearly 100 pending criminal cases involving murder and other serious offenses have been transferred from the courtroom of Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The administrative order, issued by District and Sessions Judge Virendra Kumar Singh, reassigns the cases to Singh’s own court.

The transfer follows a period in which Judge Diwakar awarded 22 death sentences across 10 different cases within a four-month span. The reassigned files involve offenses punishable by death or life imprisonment. While the administrative order does not specify a reason for the recall, legal professionals and litigants have reportedly expressed concerns regarding the frequency of capital punishment being awarded in his court.

Separately, the Supreme Court of India has upheld hanging as a valid method of execution while allowing the central government to explore alternative, more dignified methods. Nationally, India currently holds 574 prisoners on death row, the highest number recorded since 2016.

Entities

Muzaffarnagar · Ravi Kumar Diwakar · Supreme Court of India · Uttar Pradesh · Virendra Kumar Singh

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar awarded 22 death sentences across 10 cases within a four-month period in Muzaffarnagar. www.newsbytesapp.com · www.news18.com · thenews21.com · kalingatv.com · www.livelaw.in
[○ 1 SOURCE] Judge Diwakar has awarded a total of 35 death sentences during his judicial career. www.news18.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] There are currently 574 prisoners on death row in India, the highest number since 2016. www.newindianexpress.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Supreme Court upheld hanging as a valid method of execution while allowing the Centre to explore alternative methods. www.newindianexpress.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] From 2016 to 2025, sessions courts handed down 1,310 death sentences. www.newindianexpress.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Approximately 97 to 100 pending murder and serious offense cases were transferred from Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar's court to the court of District and Sessions Judge Virendra Kumar Singh. www.newsbytesapp.com · www.news18.com · thenews21.com · kalingatv.com · www.livelaw.in
[● 2 SOURCES] Death sentences awarded by sessions courts must be confirmed by the High Court before execution. www.newsbytesapp.com · www.news18.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Between 2000 and 2015, approximately one in 20 death sentences were upheld on appeal. www.newindianexpress.com

Sources

Who Is Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar? Why Were 100 Death Penalty Cases Transferred? [thenews21.com]

23 days ago

100 murder cases shifted from UP judge after 22 death sentences in 4 months [kalingatv.com]

23 days ago

97 Murder, Serious Crime Cases Recalled From Muzaffarnagar Judge After 22 Death Sentences In 4 Months [www.livelaw.in]

22 days ago

Judge awarded 22 death sentences; now 100 murder cases reassigned [www.newsbytesapp.com]

23 days ago

Rethink death sentence in execution review [www.newindianexpress.com]

21 days ago

97 Cases Recalled From Judge Who Handed 22 Death Sentences In 4 Months [www.news18.com]

23 days ago