Katara case: SC’s contempt notice to principal secy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued contempt notice to the principal secretary of Delhi's home department for not taking a decision on granting remission to Sukhdev Singh, a convict in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, despite assuring the court to do so within two weeks. Singh is serving a 20-year jail term without remission in the case.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan took exception to Delhi govt for not honouring its words and asked the officer to be present in court through video conferencing.

The court noted that the govt had on March 3 assured the apex court to take a decision on remission plea within two weeks.

"A solemn statement on instructions of the state govt was recorded in the order. Now we are informed that the Sentence Review Board (SRB) is to consider the case of the petitioner today [Monday]. The state govt has not shown elementary courtesy of even making an explanation application for grant of extension of time. We therefore issue notice to the principal secretary of the home department of Delhi govt, calling upon him to show cause why action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 should not be initiated against him. Notice of contempt is made returnable on March 28. We direct the secretary to remain present through VC," the bench said

The court had on March 3 deferred the hearing after govt sought two weeks' time. But the govt told the bench that the meeting of SRB was scheduled for March 17. "You don't even have the courtesy to apply for an extension of time. You make a solemn statement that you will decide within two weeks, and your Sentence Review Board has not considered it," the bench said.