Muzaffarnagar Fast-Track Court: Ravi Kumar Diwakar Awards Death Sentences to 22 Convicts

• Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has awarded death sentences to 22 convicts in 10 cases at the Muzaffarnagar fast-track court.
• The cases involved murders committed between 1999 and 2019, with several falling under the 'rarest of rare' category.
• The death sentences are not immediately executable and require confirmation by the concerned high court before being carried out.
• Judge Diwakar has been serving at the Muzaffarnagar court since November 2025, after being posted there from Varanasi.

The recent spate of capital punishments awarded by Judge Diwakar has raised questions about the effectiveness of the judicial system in delivering justice to victims' families.

In a span of four months, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has awarded death sentences to 22 convicts in 10 cases at the Muzaffarnagar fast-track court. The cases involved murders committed between 1999 and 2019, with several falling under the 'rarest of rare' category, warranting the maximum punishment. This category is reserved for heinous crimes that shock the collective conscience of society. Diwakar's judgments have been delivering a sense of closure to families who lost loved ones in these brutal murders. The judge has been serving at the Muzaffarnagar court since November 2025, after being posted there from Varanasi. His tenure has seen a significant number of capital punishments being awarded.

The recent death sentences were awarded on August 13 and August 12, with four men sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of Pawan Kumar in Shamli district. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.70 lakh on the convicts. Another case involved Shahnawaz being sentenced to death for kidnapping and murdering Saleem, a wood trader, for ransom in a case dating back to 1999.

The death sentences awarded by Judge Diwakar are not immediately executable. Under the law, a death sentence passed by a sessions court is required to be confirmed by the concerned high court before it can be carried out. This process ensures that the punishment is fair and just. The confirmation of death sentences is a critical step in upholding the rule of law. It also provides an opportunity for the accused to appeal against the verdict, ensuring that justice is served.

The cases involving capital punishments have been complex, with multiple accused and witnesses involved. The prosecution has presented a strong case, highlighting the heinous nature of the crimes committed. The judge's decision to award death sentences in these cases reflects his commitment to upholding the law and delivering justice to the victims' families.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has had a distinguished judicial career. He began as an additional civil judge and has since served in various courts, including Varanasi. His tenure at the Muzaffarnagar court has seen him deliver several significant judgments, including capital punishments. The judge's background is impressive, with a BCom and LLM degree. His experience and expertise have made him an effective judge, capable of handling complex cases.

The recent spate of capital punishments awarded by Judge Diwakar has raised questions about the effectiveness of the judicial system in delivering justice to victims' families. The judge's commitment to upholding the law and delivering fair verdicts is commendable. His tenure at the Muzaffarnagar court has been marked by a sense of purpose, with a focus on delivering justice to those who have suffered.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that the death sentences awarded by Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar are not immediately executable, as they require confirmation by the concerned high court before being carried out.

Source: Original reporting via Briefly