Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who awarded 36 death sentences during his postings in Muzaffarnagar and Bareilly, has been transferred from a fast track court to a family court in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The judicial transfer order appoints him as additional principal judge of the family court after a tenure marked by high-profile criminal verdicts and questions over the withdrawal of pending cases from his court.
Diwakar awarded 23 death sentences in 11 cases in Muzaffarnagar between April and September 2026, according to a report by The Times of India. He had also awarded 13 death sentences in Bareilly. His latest transfer changes his judicial assignment, with additional sessions judge Shiv Kumari moving to fast track court-3 to take over his previous position.
23 death sentences in six months in Muzaffarnagar
Diwakar was posted to Muzaffarnagar on November 29, 2025, and served as presiding officer of fast track court-3, hearing criminal cases involving Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.
His string of death sentences drew national attention. On September 7, he delivered his 23rd death sentence in Muzaffarnagar, convicting a man for burning his wife alive.
The number of capital punishment verdicts during his tenure made his court's proceedings a subject of wider public attention. The sentences, however, are judicial decisions in individual criminal cases, and the transfer order does not state that they were the reason for his reassignment.
Dispute over 97 pending criminal cases
Another issue during Diwakar's Muzaffarnagar posting concerned the recall of at least 97 pending case files from his court in August. The cases involved murder and other serious offences.
The files were recalled on the orders of then district and sessions judge Birendra Kumar Singh, who has since retired. Diwakar subsequently questioned the basis for withdrawing the cases from his court.
In a judgment in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Diwakar addressed the issue of administrative authority to recall pending files. He questioned not only whether cases could be withdrawn on administrative grounds but also the reasons for exercising such power.
He specifically raised the issue of an absence of recorded reasons. His observations brought attention to the administrative decisions governing the allocation of pending cases. The available transfer details do not establish a connection between those observations and his new posting.
Judge came into national spotlight over Gyanvapi mosque survey
Diwakar had earlier attracted national attention in May 2022, when he was serving as civil judge (senior division) in Varanasi.
He ordered a court-monitored videographic survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in proceedings concerning the worship rights of five Hindu women at the Shringar Gauri site.
During the survey, Hindu petitioners claimed that a structure in the mosque's wuzu khana, an area used for ritual ablutions, was a Shivling. The Muslim side disputed the claim. The Supreme Court subsequently transferred the proceedings to the Varanasi district judge's court.
Following the survey order, Diwakar reported receiving threats, prompting authorities to review his security arrangements. In 2024, he again raised concerns about threats originating from international phone numbers.
During his more recent Muzaffarnagar posting, he also questioned changes to his security arrangements. In a communication to Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, he said removing his assigned gunner had compromised his protection. Police maintained that alternative personnel had been deployed.
From civil judge to family court
Diwakar, 46, joined the Uttar Pradesh judicial service as a Munsif, or civil judge (junior division), in 2009. He holds B.Com, LL.B and LL.M degrees.
His earlier postings included Azamgarh, Sultanpur and Budaun. He served as civil judge (senior division) in Varanasi from April 2021 to July 2022 before moving to Bareilly, where he later became an additional district and sessions judge in a fast track court.
He was posted in Chitrakoot from April to November 2025 before joining Muzaffarnagar in November 2025, according to official records cited in the report.
Under the latest judicial transfer order, Diwakar will take charge as additional principal judge of the family court in Muzaffarnagar. Shiv Kumari, previously presiding officer of fast track court-2 and additional sessions judge, has been transferred to fast track court-3.
Inputs from TOI