Indian Judge Transferred After Awarding 36 Death Sentences in 16 Months

India: Indian judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who awarded 36 death sentences over approximately 16 months during his postings in Uttar Pradesh, has been transferred from a fast-track court to a family court in Muzaffarnagar.

According to Indian media reports published on October 24, 2026, Diwakar has been appointed additional principal judge of the family court in Muzaffarnagar following a judicial transfer order.

During his posting in Muzaffarnagar, Diwakar awarded 23 death sentences in 11 cases between April and September 2026. He had previously handed down 13 death sentences during his posting in Bareilly, bringing the reported total to 36.

The unusually high number of capital punishment verdicts has drawn attention to the judge's judicial record and the application of India's “rarest of rare” doctrine, under which the death penalty is reserved for exceptional cases.

Diwakar also came into the national spotlight in 2022 when, while serving in Varanasi, he ordered a videographic survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The order became part of a high-profile legal dispute concerning the religious site's status.

His judicial work in Muzaffarnagar also attracted scrutiny after 97 pending criminal cases were reportedly withdrawn from his court and transferred to other courts through an administrative order in August 2026. The transfers prompted public discussion, although the district bar association described such case transfers as falling within the district judge's administrative authority.

The death sentences awarded by a sessions court are not automatically final. Under Indian law, each death sentence must be reviewed and confirmed by the relevant High Court before it can be carried out, and the convicted individuals may pursue appeals.

The transfer changes Diwakar's judicial assignment from a fast-track criminal court to a family court, where he is expected to handle family-related disputes.