The Supreme Court on Monday issued a contempt notice to the Principal Secretary of Delhi's Home Department for not acting on the remission plea of Sukhdev Pehalwan, a convict in the Nitish Katara murder case.
A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan strongly criticized the Delhi government for its inaction on the remission plea, remarking:
"We believe that unless a contempt notice is issued, our orders are not complied with."
The Court has directed the concerned Delhi government official to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. It also ordered him to appear via videoconferencing at the next hearing.
"Issue notice to the Principal Secretary of the Home Department of Delhi government calling upon him to show cause why action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 should not be initiated against him. Notice of contempt is made returnable on the 28th of March. We direct the Secretary to remain present through VC," the Court said.
Nitish Katara, a business executive, was kidnapped and murdered in 2002 in what the trial court termed an “honour killing.” Vikas Yadav, son of a former Member of Parliament, had opposed his sister’s alleged relationship with Katara.
In 2008, the trial court convicted Vikas Yadav and co-accused Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Pehalwan, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Delhi High Court later upheld the verdict, and the matter eventually reached the Supreme Court. In October 2016, the Supreme Court confirmed the convictions, specifying that Vikas and Vishal Yadav would serve 25 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Sukhdev Pehalwan would serve 20 years without remission.
In December 2024, Pehalwan approached the Supreme Court seeking remission of his sentence. The Court issued a notice on his plea in January 2025.
On March 3, 2025, the Additional Solicitor General representing the Delhi government assured the Supreme Court that Pehalwan's remission request would be considered and decided within two weeks. Accordingly, the Court directed the government to take a decision within this period. However, the order was not followed.
On Monday, the Supreme Court sharply criticized the Delhi government for failing to comply, questioning whether it had an unwritten policy of disregarding the Court’s directives.
"Is there a rule with the Delhi government that whenever the Supreme Court passes an order to decide a case, it will not be decided within the time?" the Court asked.
The matter is listed next on March 28, 2025.
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