The Supreme Court deferred hearing a petition to transfer Babbar Khalsa convict Jagtar Singh Hawara from Tihar Jail to Punjab after receiving a critical Intelligence Bureau report. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Delhi government, raised serious security concerns regarding escape risks and cited Hawara's 2004 escape through a 100-foot tunnel from Burail Jail. Hawara’s legal team argued for his relocation based on family ties in Fatehgarh Sahib and the absence of pending cases in Delhi. The bench agreed to revisit the matter in February next year following suggestions to pause the proceedings until election concerns pass.
Key points
Government authorities oppose shifting the Babbar Khalsa convict to Punjab due to potenti…: Government authorities oppose shifting the Babbar Khalsa convict to Punjab due to potential law and order disruptions and escape risks.
The petitioner argued for the relocation based on his local roots in Fatehgarh Sahib and…: The petitioner argued for the relocation based on his local roots in Fatehgarh Sahib and largely unblemished conduct over the last 19 years.
The Supreme Court has paused legal proceedings on the transfer request and will take up t…: The Supreme Court has paused legal proceedings on the transfer request and will take up the matter again in February next year.
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New Delhi: The Intelligence Bureau told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that transferring Beant Singh murder convict Jagtar Singh Hawara from Delhi's Tihar Jail to any prison in Punjab will have a huge impact on the upcoming state elections.
The IB also told the top court that Hawara falls in the high-risk category and may not be transferred to Punjab.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale told senior advocate S Muralidhar that the agency's report is very damning.
Muralidhar then submitted, "If elections are a concern, this may be taken up after three months."
The top court posted the matter for hearing in February next year.
Elections to the 117-member Punjab Assembly are due early next year.
Earlier, the apex court had directed the Delhi government to seek inputs from the IB on Hawara's plea seeking transfer from Tihar to any prison in Punjab.
The Babbar Khalsa terrorist is serving a life term for the killing of then-Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in August 1995.
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