Shillong, Jun 1: The legal services committee of the Meghalaya High Court has recently constituted a panel to handle death sentence reference matters.
This follows a directive from the Supreme Court, aimed at enhancing the legal process concerning capital punishment cases.
The panel comprises senior advocate Kaustav Paul, advocate Phuyosa Yobin, and advocate Philemon Nongbri.
The Supreme Court in its order directed that Legal Services Committees must assign a dedicated legal team comprising one Senior Counsel and at least two advocates with a minimum of seven years’ practice to represent the convicted person in death reference matters, irrespective of whether private counsel has been engaged. It also directed that trial courts shall mandatorily call for reports on aggravating and mitigating circumstances once the accused is convicted and before sentencing.
The panel constituted by the Meghalaya High Court Legal Services Committee will be responsible to represent the convicted person. Such representation shall be provided irrespective of whether the convict has engaged private counsel, so as to ensure full and effective assistance to the Court in matters involving death penalty, which necessitate a careful balancing of the interest of justice, societal concerns, and the possibility of reformation and rehabilitation.
The panel will be furnished with complete case records and afforded adequate time to prepare, conduct research, and present a comprehensive assessment of mitigating circumstances. The panel shall work in cohesion with the representing private counsel, if any.
