SRINAGAR: A man is languishing in a jail from the past four years despite having been acquitted of the murder charges by a Division Bench of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) High Court.
Hari Bhadur Thappa, was facing charges for allegedly killing his wife in 2001. Though he was convicted and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by Sessions Judge Leh, a Division Bench in 2009 had acquitted him of the charges and had directed the jail authorities to release him from the custody.
The matter surfaced when the man filed another appeal before the IOK wing of State High Court.
A Bench comprising, Justice Virender Singh and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, observed that it is shocking that the appellant continues to languish in Central Jail Kot-Bhalwal, even after lapse of four years of setting-aside of his conviction and sentence.
“Those responsible for such major lapse are required to be held accountable,” the court observed.
The Bench further directed the registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice for appropriate orders.
The file was subsequently forwarded to the Chief Justice, M M Kumar, who took serious note of the issue directing the Registrar Vigilance J&K High Court Jammu to initiate enquiry in the matter and file a detailed report.
