’93 blast convicts: State to review decision on 50-yr imprisonment

The court then asked the state why it needs to keep them in prison for 50 years.

Gawankar had earlier told the court that the state’s decision is in the form of a letter and not an order which is violative of the 1992 guidelines that form the basis for consideration of cases for premature release of life convicts. The state,however,had cited the amended guidelines of December 18,2008,whereby the state has power to expand the sentence without the consent of the convict on grounds that if the convict is released,he might commit similar offences. The state has now told the court that they will reconsider the issue before the next hearing in two weeks.

The convicts were convicted by a TADA court for their role in the 1993 bomb blasts.

They had moved HC in April urging for premature release and the court had asked the state government to decide their case. In the petition,the convicts argued that government guidelines prescribed that persons held guilty of terrorist activities had to spend 30 years in prison along with the remissions.

On June 6,the government decided that the benefit or remission would not be available to the convicts and that they will have to serve 50 years in prison or till they turn 65.