GUWAHATI: The Assam government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Gauhati High Court’s July 30, 2025 judgment that altered the conviction in the Dr Deben Dutta murder case from murder to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and reduced the death sentence to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the respondents on the state government’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) and condoned the delay in filing the petition. The respondents have been given four weeks to file their replies.
The Assam government has challenged the High Court’s finding, maintaining that the circumstances surrounding Dutta’s death indicated a deliberate and coordinated assault.
The state has sought restoration of the conviction under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), instead of Section 304 Part II, and reversal of the reduction in punishment from death to life imprisonment.
A team of lawyers led by Senior Additional Advocate General Chinmoy Sharma appeared for the Assam government before the Supreme Court and presented its arguments.
The case relates to the death of Dr Deben Dutta, a retired medical professional who had volunteered to serve at the hospital of Teok Tea Estate in Jorhat. He was attacked by plantation workers in August 2019, and his death triggered widespread protests across Assam.
The matter is expected to come up for further hearing after the respondents submit their replies.
