Staines ruling: SC expunges controversial paras

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expunged two controversial sentences in its ruling on the killings of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, which had upheld the life imprisonment for Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh and his accomplice.

Expunging the second last sentence of paragraph 43 of the 76-page ruling, a bench of Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan replaced it by saying, "After 12 years, the life imprisonment given by the

high court need not be interfered with."

The bench replaced the second sentence by saying, "It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone's belief by any means."

The original sentences, which were expunged, had alluded to the religious activities of Staines in Manoharpur area in Orissa and his conversion activities leading to provocation.

The court expunged these two sentences as they were seen to be liable to misinterpretation.