The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the government to consider Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma’s request for premature release at the next meeting of the Sentence Review Board (SRB).
Justice Najmi Waziri disposed of the plea of Sharma after the Delhi government said under the new Delhi Prisons Rules, SRB meetings would be held every quarter instead of once in six months.
The Delhi government said Sharma’s case would be considered at the next SRB meeting.
During the hearing, the High Court was surprised that while the Delhi Police had not objected to Sharma’s plea for premature release, its nominee on the Board had done so.
Sharma’s counsel said he had undergone 21 years one month and six days of imprisonment, including remission, and therefore, was eligible for premature release. He also apprised the court that Sharma’s conduct in jail in prison and while on bail, parole or furlough has been good and there was no adverse report against him.
Rahul Mehra, appearing for the government, told the court that SRB guidelines were not binding on it and they only laid down the eligibility criteria to be considered for premature release.
Mr. Mehra further said that under the new rules, which came into effect from January 1, 2019, the eligibility criteria of having undergone 20-25 years of imprisonment with remission has been done away with.
He assured the court that Sharma’s case would be considered under the new rules when the SRB holds its next meeting.
Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in December, 2006 for killing Jessica Lal in 1999.
The trial court had acquitted him, but the Delhi High Court had reversed the order and the Supreme Court had upheld his life sentence in April, 2010.
Jessica Lal was shot dead by Manu Sharma after she had refused to serve him liquor at the Tamarind Court restaurant in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area on the night of April 30, 1999.
opposing his request.The counsel told the court that Sharma’s conduct in prison and while on bail, parole or furlough has been good and there was no adverse report opposing his request.
Rahul Mehra, appearing for the government, told the court that SRB guidelines were not binding on it and they only laid down the eligibility criteria to be considered for premature release.
Mr. Mehra further said that under the new rules, which came into effect from January 1, 2019, the eligibility criteria of having undergone 20-25 years of imprisonment with remission has been done away with.
He assured the court that Sharma’s case would be considered under the new rules when the SRB holds its next meeting.
Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in December, 2006 for killing Jessica Lal in 1999.
The trial court had acquitted him, but the Delhi High Court had reversed the order and the Supreme Court had upheld his life sentence in April, 2010.
Lal was shot dead by Sharma after she had refused to serve him liquor at the Tamarind Court restaurant in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area on the night of April 30, 1999.
