Justice Markandey Katju to appear before SC on November 11

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju today said he would appear before the apex court on November 11 in the Soumya rape case, as directed by it.

In a Facebook post, he said "I will be appearing before the Supreme Court in the Soumya case on 11th November at 2 PM to explain why the judgement requires review and the death sentence be imposed on the accused Govindachamy."

He said he had received the notice given by the Supreme Court.

On October 17, the apex court had issued notice to Katju, asking him to appear in person before it on November 11 and participate in the proceedings as to whether the judgement and order passed by the bench 'suffers from any fundamental flaw so as to require exercise of the review jurisdiction'.

Justice Katju had in a Facebook post had stated that the court's Sept 15 order needs to be reviewed in an open court hearing.

"Such a view coming from a retired Judge of this Court needs to be treated with the greatest of respect and consideration. Office to register a suo motu review petition," the bench had said in its order.

Justice Katju had last month stated that the Supreme Court had 'grievously erred by law' in the Soumya case, in which the death sentence of the accused Govindachamy was commuted.

The apex court had last month quashed Govindachamy's death penalty, but upheld life imprisonment for raping 23-year-old Soumya on February 1, 2011.

The death penalty had been imposed by a Fast Track Court in Thrissur,which was later upheld by Kerala High Court.

A review petition filed by the Kerala government and Soumya's mother is pending before the Apex Court.

Meanwhile, after her recent meeting with Justice Katju became controversial, Additional Director General of Police today said her visit had nothing to do with the Soumya case.

Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad had also expressed displeasure over the meeting.