Delhi High Court Dismisses Furlough Plea by Vikas Yadav in 2002 Murder Case
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking furlough by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term without remission for the murder of Nitish Katara in 2002. Yadav had sought 21 days of furlough to maintain social ties and spend time with his wife following his recent marriage.
Court Upholds Prison Authorities' Decision
Justice Ravinder Dudeja stated that there was no arbitrariness, illegality, or violation of constitutional rights in the order passed by the jail authorities rejecting Yadav's request for temporary release. The court observed that no grounds were made out to interfere with the impugned orders, effectively upholding the decision of the prison administration.
Background of the Case and Furlough Request
Vikas Yadav, convicted in the 2002 murder case, is serving a fixed 25-year sentence and has undergone over 23 years of actual incarceration. In his plea, the convict challenged the October 29, 2025, decision of the jail authorities denying him furlough on the grounds that the rejection was arbitrary.
The plea argued that Yadav had remained in continuous custody for 23 years without being granted furlough and now sought temporary release to maintain social ties, particularly with his wife. It also noted that he had earlier received interim bail by the Supreme Court for over four and a half months on account of his mother's medical treatment, which the apex court later extended on the ground of his marriage.
Opposition from Prison Authorities and Victim's Family
The prison authorities and Neelam Katara, the mother of the victim, strongly opposed the furlough plea. They cited several reasons for their opposition:
- The gravity of the offence
- The severity of the sentence imposed
- The absence of requisite annual conduct reports
- Concerns that the convict might flee the country
- Potential disturbance to public order
- Risk of harm to the victim's family
Legal Context and Sentencing
Vikas Yadav and his cousin, Vishal Yadav, among others, were sentenced to 25 years of actual imprisonment without consideration of remission for the murder of Nitish Katara. The case has remained one of Delhi's most high-profile criminal matters, drawing significant media attention and public interest over the years.
The court's decision reinforces the principle that furlough privileges must be balanced against considerations of public safety, the nature of the crime committed, and the interests of justice. While acknowledging the importance of maintaining social ties for prisoners, the court found that in this particular case, the concerns raised by prison authorities and the victim's family warranted denial of the furlough request.
