Afzal Moves Plea in SC for Fast Disposal of Mercy Petition

Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru has moved a plea in the Supreme Court seeking an early disposal of his case, citing that solitary confinement is worse than death, said media reports.

His counsel ND Pancholi said that Guru filed the plea in March for an early decision on his mercy plea pending with the government for the past four years, reports said.

Pancholi said that during his meeting with Guru last week in Tihar jail, the convict told him that what he was ‘facing now is worse than death’, said reports.

The lawyer said that Guru said that he was ‘fed up with the solitary confinement’ and the ‘delay’ in deciding on his mercy petition, reports said.

According to Pancholi, Guru moved his petition through jail officials in March after his first plea sent personally in January was returned asking him to approach through the proper channel, said reports.

“Afzal’s contention is that he is sentenced to death and not solitary confinement. He has said the delay was not helping him and a decision should be taken as soon as possible,” the lawyer was quoted as saying.

The lawyer also said that his client was very much ‘disturbed’ over the delay in taking a decision, reports said.

“He is saying it is better that he is hanged. He is saying he be hanged and he is ready for that. For him, solitary confinement is not helping him,” Pancholi was quoted as saying.

Guru had also requested that he be shifted to a jail in Jammu and Kashmir so that his family can meet him.

(Based on internet reports)