Government reprimanded on Abu Salem: SC said – do not lecture to the judiciary, there is no home secretary to tell us to decide

The Supreme Court has made a strong comment on the Central Government’s affidavit in the case of gangster Abu Salem’s application. The court rejected the contention of the Ministry of Home Affairs which said that the application has been made prematurely. Along with this, the court also took objection to the sentence of the affidavit in which it has been said that the Supreme Court should decide on it. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked the Home Ministry to give a lecture to the judiciary. We don’t consider it normal when you tell us to decide, when it is for you to decide. The Home Secretary is not someone who tells us that you decide on this issue.

Say the use of moderate language – Court
The Supreme Court said that the Center should use moderate language for what it has to say. The court said that we did not like the sentence of the Home Ministry’s affidavit in which it is written that we will take a decision at the appropriate time.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its affidavit, has said that it is not the appropriate time for the government to take cognizance of the application of Abu Salem. Supreme Court can decide on this. It is known that in his application, Abu has said that he should be given a sentence of more than 25 years.

Justice Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh are hearing the application of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Abu Salem. Abu has said that the Indian government has promised the Portuguese court that his prison sentence cannot exceed 25 years.

In the affidavit, the government said this
On Tuesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in an affidavit to the Supreme Court that the government was committed to fulfill the promise made by the then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to the Portuguese government. In this, the government has said that Abu Salem will not be given a sentence of more than 25 years. Bhalla said the time to fulfill this promise would come on November 10, 2030, when Abu’s sentence of 25 years would be completed.

Court dissatisfied
The Supreme Court said that it is not satisfied with the affidavit filed by the CBI. The court, by order on February 2, 2022, had sought a response from the central government on the application of Abu Salem.

Abu gets life sentence
Abu was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2017 Mumbai bomb blasts case. He has been found guilty of bringing arms from Gujarat to Mumbai before the blasts. Serial bomb blasts took place in Mumbai on 12 March 1993 in which 257 people were killed and 700 people were injured.