The Supreme Court has warned that top Odisha officials will be summoned to appear in person if the state government fails to reach a decision on the premature release plea of Dara Singh by September 17, reprimanding authorities for stalling the matter for over two years.
A bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi on Tuesday refused to grant a four-week extension sought by the state, remarking that the government must decide whether to accept or reject the plea rather than letting it linger indefinitely. The judges observed that if the state rejects the remission application, the convict retains the legal option to challenge that decision, while an approval would render the ongoing court proceedings infructuous.
Repeated Adjournments Draw Judicial Rebuke
During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel appearing for Odisha asked for four additional weeks, explaining that he was awaiting instructions and noting that the Advocate on Record was unwell.
Justice Misra rejected the justification, pointing out that the state had also sought an adjournment during the preceding hearing. The bench referred to its August 29 directive, which had explicitly instructed the State Sentence Review Board to make a determination and inform the court of its decision by September 2. Questioning why the case was being repeatedly postponed, Justice Misra stated that instructions must be obtained immediately or the bench would issue summons for the state’s secretary.
Background of the Incarceration and Plea
Dara Singh, also known as Ravindra Pal, is serving a sentence of life imprisonment for his role in the 1999 murders of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two young sons.
Singh approached the apex court seeking an order for the competent Odisha government panel to examine his case for early release, stating that he has remained incarcerated for more than 26 years. The Supreme Court had issued notice on his petition on July 8, 2024.
Procedural Delays in Prison Reporting
The matter has seen successive delays in recent weeks. During a hearing on August 19, the bench highlighted that proceedings had been deferred multiple times solely to enable the state to make a final call on the plea. At that time, state counsel had submitted a communication from the Odisha Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services indicating that the Sentence Review Board was considering the application, but had not yet received a required report from the Keonjhar (Kendujhar) District Jail.
After noting that it had received no formal update on the board’s decision by the earlier target date, the court scheduled the next hearing for September 17, making clear that further delay from the administration will not be permitted.
