The Supreme Court of India has issued a contempt notice to Rajesh Kumar Singh, a former Principal Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Prison Administration and Reforms Department, over allegations of false testimony concerning the delay in processing a prisoner’s remission file. The case, titled Ashok v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another, saw the justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih express strong dissatisfaction with Singh’s contradictory statements.
During the proceedings, Justice Oka criticized Singh for his repeated dishonesty, stating, “We thought this officer will come clean but for the last three occasions, he has only spoken lies… You have not come clean, now face the music.” The court highlighted the severe implications of Singh’s actions, which potentially compromised the liberty of a prisoner awaiting remission.
Despite being removed from his role and facing disciplinary actions, the Supreme Court found the measures against Singh insufficient. The Court underscored the severity of the misconduct, suggesting the officer’s actions reflected a “very sorry state of affairs” within the administration. The justices issued a notice questioning why criminal contempt and perjury should not be pursued, given Singh’s apparent defiance and misleading court statements.
The controversy began when Singh initially blamed the delay on a slow response from the State Secretariat and the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. However, subsequent affidavits revealed these reasons were inaccuracies, leading the court to seriously question the authenticity of Singh’s explanations on August 20 and again on August 28.
Further compounding the issue, the Court criticized the State’s attempt to shift blame to the advocate on record, who was accused of failing to communicate court orders timely. The justices refuted this as an afterthought and an attempt to deflect responsibility from the State’s mishandling of the case.
The Court has ordered the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to submit a detailed affidavit by September 24, clarifying the actions of state officials in this matter. The next hearing is scheduled for September 27, where further proceedings regarding the contempt notice and the underlying case of the prisoner’s remission will continue.
