New Delhi, Mar 30: The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Delhi government and the superintendent of Tihar central jail no. 2 on a petition seeking quashing of city government's guidelines stipulating that a particular category of life convicts must remain in jail for whole life.
While issuing notices to the respondents, a division bench comprising Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice S K Aggarwal asked them to file their reply by July 27, the next date of hearing.
In his petition filed through counsel Kamlesh, life convict Ata-ur-Rehman, who has already spent over 19 years in jail, had challenged the legality of clause 4 of guidelines issued on September 9, 2000 under executive instructions of Delhi government's home department.
At-ur-Rehman was sentenced to death by a sessions court for murder and rape in October 1996. However, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the high court.
As per the impugned clause, a certain class of lifers could never come out of jail even after spending about 19 years behind the bars and despite having good conduct and being recommended for release.
Terming the clause as violative of Article 21 of the constitution, the petitioner requested the court to quash the same and direct the authorities concerned to release him if he was found fit and recommended for release.
Bureau Report
