The High Court of Karnataka has directed that public prosecutors to secure and submit before the trial court a psychological evaluation of the accused and backgrounds of early and present family members, education, economic conditions, assets, and the possibility of reforms of the accused, in all the cases in which prosecutors seek the imposition of death penalty.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice G. Basavaraja issued the guidelines while confirming the death penalty imposed on Byluru Thippaiah, a 46-year-old labourer from Kampli in Ballari district, for killing his wife, 34, sister-in-law, 28, and his three minor children — two girls and a boy, all aged below 10.
