The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its displeasure with the Uttar Pradesh government for its continued delays in addressing remission pleas, which had previously been ordered to be considered within a designated timeframe. The bench, consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, has now summoned the principal secretary of the state’s prisons department to appear via video conference on August 19.
The direction came during the hearing of a convict’s petition, which appealed for remission based on the state’s policy. The justices emphasized their intention to reform the system and expressed frustration with the state’s non-compliance.
During the session, the state’s attorney requested additional time, which led to the court’s stern rebuke. “Four months have passed. Again you are asking for two more months to decide the plea. Nothing has been done,” Justice Oka remarked, highlighting the state’s pattern of non-compliance with the court’s orders regarding timely consideration of remission cases.
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Back in April, the Supreme Court had given the Uttar Pradesh government six weeks to process these pleas. However, as of July 10, the latest hearing date before today, no significant progress had been made, despite favorable recommendations from jail authorities regarding the petitioner’s case.
