Khushi Gupta
Published on: April 13, 2022 at 19:17 IST
The Supreme Court expressed its displeasure at the Failure of Union Secretary of Internal Affairs Ajay Kumar Bhalla to file a Personal Affidavit regarding the release of the Gangster Abu Salem after serving 25 years in Prison, as promised in 2002 by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, LK Advani in the Portuguese Courts.
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh gave Bhalla ‘the Last Opportunity’ to file his Response by April 18 after recording that the Affidavit could not be filed due to some ‘Communication Gap’ on part of the Government.
Attorney-General Tushar Mehta indicated to the Institute that he had applied for a second chance at Bhalla after the Court asked the State Attorney if the interior Secretary would choose to make an Oral Statement if he could not File an Affidavit.
“Now that the Affidavit has not been filed, ask him if he would want to make an Oral Statement,” the Bench had told a Counsel appearing for the Government when the Case was called out initially.
The question entailed the personal appearance of Bhalla before the Court due to his failure to file the required Affidavit.
Mehta appeared to seek one last chance for Bhalla to abide by the Court’s last Order on March 8.
“There was a Communication Gap on our part. We are requesting for another opportunity,” he submitted.
The Bench recorded in its Order: “Learned Solicitor General submits that there was a Communication Gap on their part and that the Affidavit of the Union Home Secretary would be filed on or before April 18 as the Last Opportunity. At the request of the Solicitor General, the matter to be taken up next on April 21.”
Salem has argued before the Apex Court that handing out an Imprisonment beyond 25 years to him was in Breach of the assurance given by the then Deputy Prime Minister on Behalf of the Centre.