ORDER

Delhi had seen a carnage about a decade back. The country had then lost its Prime Minister at the hands of an assassin. Delhi thereafter lost thousands of innocent humans and what is more shocking is that the victims belonged to one community, namely, Sikh. The wrath fell on that community because the assassin of the Prime Minister was supposed to be a Sikh. The materials on record portray a hair raising scenario of Delhi starting from Ist November, 1984 -- the assassination of the Prime Minister having taken place on 31st October, 1984.

2. It seems that from Ist November, 1984 onwards, mob had taken control of the city for a few days and Sikhs of different localities subjected to all sorts of atrocities. They were murdered, thrown into drains or set ablaze. Their properties were looted and their houses were burnt. The three respondents are among those who were subsequently put on trial for such offences. The trial court found all of them guilty under various sections of law, to wit, 302/149, 436149, 436/149, 395, 147 and 148 of the Penal Code. Various sentences were awarded on the respondents. We may mention about the one under Section 302/149 which was imprisonment for life.