Supreme Court orders UP Principal Secretary (Prisons) to appear before it for failing to comply with its order

New Delhi, August 5

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Prisons) to appear before it through video conferencing on August 19 as the state government failed to comply with its order to consider remission pleas of convicts within the timeframe specified by it.

“Four months have passed. Again you are asking for two more months to decide the plea. Nothing has been done. As far as state of UP is considered, we have seen that the orders passed by this court for considering remission plea of accused persons in a specific time is not being considered,” a Bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka said.

The Bench, which also included Justice Augustine George Masih, said, “We want to correct the system.”

While hearing a convict’s plea seeking remission in accordance with the applicable policy of the state, the Bench took strong exception of the state government counsel seeking time once again after the matter called out for hearing.

The top court had in April given six weeks to the UP government. Last month, it was informed that the state government has not passed any orders despite jail authorities recommending the case of the petitioner.