The Supreme Court of India has issued a directive to the Uttarakhand government to expedite the consideration of a remission plea by Rohit Chaturvedi, a convict in the 2003 murder of poet Madhumita Shukla. The court emphasized the urgency by setting strict deadlines, and noted that failure to adhere could lead to a review of Chaturvedi’s bail plea.
Madhumita Shukla, a 26-year-old poet, was tragically killed in her home in Lucknow’s Paper Mill Colony on May 9, 2003. The case drew significant media attention due to its connection with Amarmani Tripathi, a former Uttar Pradesh minister arrested in connection with the murder. Tripathi, along with other accused, was later convicted of conspiracy and murder in a trial that was moved to Uttarakhand.
In a recent hearing, a bench led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan outlined a timeline for the state-level committee responsible for assessing Chaturvedi’s plea for premature release. The committee is expected to submit its recommendation within one week, with the state government making a decision within the following two weeks. The state’s decision is then required to be forwarded to the central government for concurrence within three days.
Justice Oka stated, “The appropriate authority of the central government shall take appropriate decisions within one month from the receipt of recommendation of the state government.” He further warned that any delays in this process would compel the court to consider Chaturvedi’s interim bail request.
The backdrop of this directive includes a legal clarification by the Supreme Court on the appropriate authority to handle remission pleas. This clarification follows a decision from January 8, 2024, overturning a previous verdict and establishing that the state where the trial and conviction occur should handle such matters.
The Madhumita Shukla case, which involved a high-profile political figure and unfolded across two states, highlights the complexities of jurisdiction in legal procedures for remission. The Supreme Court’s intervention seeks to streamline this process and ensure timely justice for both the victim’s family and the convicts seeking remission. The case will be revisited on March 28, where compliance with the Supreme Court’s order will be assessed.
