Governments get notice on Afzal Guru’s transfer plea

The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the central and Delhi governments on a petition by Afzal Guru, on death row for his role in the 2001 parliament attack, seeking his transfer from Tihar Jail to a prison in Srinagar.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Aftab Alam and R.M. Lodha issued notice after the court inquired if there was any jail other than in Srinagar where the petitioner would like to be shifted.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel V.C. Mahajan told the court that under the rules, a convict should be lodged in a jail at the place of his residence. He told the court that Afzal Guru’s 90-year old mother, 11-year-old son and his wife have to travel repeatedly from Srinagar to Delhi to meet him.

Mahajan pleaded that the court ask the central government to respond to the petition.

A resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, Guru was found guilty of plotting the Dec 13, 2001 parliament attack and sentenced to death in 2002. The Delhi High Court confirmed the death penalty in 2003.

The Supreme Court also upheld the capital punishment. Guru’s wife filed a mercy petition to the president after the apex court verdict.