The power of imposing a fixed term of imprisonment, or for the remainder of natural term of life of convict is available only to High Court and Supreme Court, and not the trial court. Considering the motive of the crime that appellant was living in a relationship with the complainant Anju who had two children from the previous marriage, and had taken away the life of two minor innocent children at the very threshold of their life and murdered in a brutal manner by administering celphos to them has been established. It is true that the punishment of remainder of natural life could not have imposed by the learned trial judge but after looking into the entire case. It was appropriate to confirm the sentence. Para 15
(2021) 3 SCC 380 – Gauri Shankar v. State of Punjab