Supreme Court Postpones Dara Singh Remission Hearing to May 13
The Supreme Court of India has deferred the hearing of the remission plea filed by Dara Singh, who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons. The hearing has been rescheduled to May 13, following a submission by the Odisha government.
Odisha Government Informs Court of Review Process
During the proceedings, the Odisha government apprised the Supreme Court that the state's sentence review board will thoroughly examine Dara Singh's case and reach a decision in the near future. Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, representing the state, informed the bench comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Manmohan that the government has requested detailed reports from multiple authorities.
These reports are being sought from:
- The state prison authorities of Odisha
- The administration and police authorities of Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh, which is Singh's native place
"The board will take an appropriate decision after that," Acharya stated, emphasizing that the review process is underway and will follow due legal procedures.
Background of the Case and Previous Proceedings
Dara Singh has been incarcerated for more than 26 years, having been arrested on January 31, 2000. His co-convict in the case, Mahendra Hembram, was released from jail in April of last year, which has brought renewed attention to Singh's plea for remission.
Earlier, on February 20, the Odisha government had requested a two-week extension to file an affidavit. This affidavit was intended to document:
- The extant remission policy currently in force
- The remission policy that was prevailing at the time of the commission of the offence in 1999
- The policy in effect when the conviction order was passed
The Supreme Court had previously clarified that Odisha is at liberty to make a decision based on the state's own policy framework regarding remission.
Supreme Court's Historic Ruling in 2011
In a landmark judgment on January 21, 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the life imprisonment sentences for Dara Singh and Mahendra Hembram. The convicts were found guilty of burning alive Graham Staines and his two young sons in 1999, a crime that shocked the nation and drew international condemnation.
The apex court dismissed the appeals filed by Singh and Hembram, who had challenged their life sentences. Additionally, the court rejected appeals from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that sought an enhancement of the punishment, thereby confirming the life terms as final.
The upcoming hearing on May 13 will be crucial as it awaits the Odisha sentence review board's decision, which will play a pivotal role in determining whether Dara Singh's plea for remission is granted or denied.
