Supreme Court Questions Delay in Prisoner’s Remission Case in Uttar Pradesh
The Supreme Court of India has asked Rajesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Prison Administration Department, to explain the delay in processing a convict’s permanent remission plea. A bench of justices, Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, directed Singh to file an affidavit detailing his statements and the officers involved.
Singh appeared via video conference but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the delay. The court was shocked to learn that the file was not accepted by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and was only forwarded after the expiry of the Code of Conduct.
The court emphasized that the Code of Conduct should not hinder the State Government from considering the remission plea, as per its order dated May 13, 2024. The court has directed Singh to file the affidavit by August 14, 2024, and listed the matter for further hearing on August 20.
The court noted that almost four months had passed since its April 10, 2024, order directing the Uttar Pradesh Government to consider the remission plea. The court expressed concern over the repeated delays in implementing its orders.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
Remission -: Remission means reducing the time a person has to stay in prison. It can be given for good behavior or other reasons.
Uttar Pradesh -: Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. It has many people and is known for its rich history and culture.
Principal Secretary -: A Principal Secretary is a high-ranking official in the government. They help manage important departments and make sure things run smoothly.
Prison Administration Department -: This department takes care of the prisons in a state. They make sure the rules are followed and prisoners are treated fairly.
Chief Minister’s Secretariat -: This is the office of the Chief Minister, who is the head of the state government. The Secretariat helps the Chief Minister with their work.
Affidavit -: An affidavit is a written statement that someone swears is true. It is used in court to provide information or evidence.
Hearing -: A hearing is a meeting in court where people talk about a case. The judge listens and makes decisions based on what is said.
