New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard the case of premature release of Ravindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh, convicted of murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two children. The Supreme Court has given the Sentence Review Board of Odisha one last chance to take a decision regarding the release of Dara Singh. The bench of Justice Manoj Mishra and Justice Vijay Bishnoi said that the Sentence Review Board should take a decision in 15 days, otherwise they will take the decision. Dara Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Stent murder case.
In the last hearing, the Supreme Court had asked the Odisha government to take a decision regarding Dara Singh by August 19, but the bench was told in Wednesday's hearing that no decision has been taken yet regarding the premature release of Dara Singh. Counsel for the Odisha government urged the Supreme Court bench to hear the matter later. On this the court asked why the decision had not been taken yet. On this, the state government's lawyer gave the letter sent by the Directorate General of Jail and Correctional Services to the court. Odisha government told the court that Dara Singh is originally from UP. Information about his history has been sought from UP. Justice Manoj Mishra expressed his displeasure on this and said that such a situation without decision cannot be tolerated.
The Supreme Court bench then directed that the Sentence Review Board of Odisha should decide and give information regarding the release of Dara Singh by September 2. The court orally said that whatever decision you want to take, otherwise we will do it. The Supreme Court bench clearly said that it is not concerned with how the Odisha government is communicating. Let us tell you that Dara Singh has filed a petition for concession in life imprisonment and premature release. He has told that he has spent more than 25 years in captivity. The policy of the Government of Odisha is to give first release in such cases. Dara Singh got death sentence in 2003. The Odisha High Court changed it to life imprisonment in 2005. Which was upheld by the Supreme Court.
