Supreme Court Questions Uttar Pradesh on Remission Delay

The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the Principal Secretary of Uttar Pradesh's Prison Administration Department for the prolonged delay in a convict's permanent remission case. The court demanded an affidavit detailing reasons for the delay and directed addressing the concerns by August 14, 2024.

The Supreme Court has directed the Principal Secretary of Uttar Pradesh's Prison Administration Department to explain the significant delay in a convict's permanent remission case. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih instructed Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Principal Secretary, to submit an affidavit detailing his oral statements made in court.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, appearing via video conference on August 5, failed to justify the prolonged delay in compliance with the court's orders. The court noted that Singh cited the competent authority's pending file as an excuse. The court was particularly alarmed that the file was sent to the Chief Minister's Secretariat only after the expiry of the Code of Conduct.

The bench ordered Singh to identify the officers in the Chief Minister's Secretariat who refused to accept the file and to record any efforts made to ensure compliance with the court's directive issued on May 13, 2024. Additionally, the court mandated the filing of the necessary correspondence with the Chief Minister's Secretariat by August 14. The matter has been slated for further hearing on August 20.

(With inputs from agencies.)