The Supreme Court has strongly questioned the Odisha government's continued delay in deciding the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence in connection with the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons.
A bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi expressed displeasure after the Odisha government sought further time in the matter. The Court noted that the authorities had already been given time to take a decision on Singh's remission plea but had failed to inform it of any final decision.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Delay in deciding Dara Singh's remission plea.
Location: Supreme Court of India / Odisha.
Authority/Organisation: Supreme Court and Odisha Sentence Review Board.
Authority/Organisation: Supreme Court and Odisha Sentence Review Board.
Action Taken: Court fixed September 17 for the next hearing and warned that the concerned Secretary could be summoned.
The Court has now fixed the matter for September 17, 2026, and made it clear that the state cannot continue delaying the decision. The bench also warned that the concerned Secretary could be summoned if the authorities fail to take a decision and inform the Court by the next hearing.
The state's counsel had sought an adjournment, citing the illness of the Advocate-on-Record and the need to obtain instructions. The bench, however, questioned why the matter was being repeatedly deferred when the Court had already directed the competent authority to take a decision.
The Supreme Court observed that the remission plea could either be accepted or rejected, but the authorities could not keep the matter pending indefinitely. If the plea is rejected, Singh would have the option to challenge that decision, while acceptance could make the present proceedings infructuous.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Dara Singh moved the Supreme Court seeking premature release after spending more than 26 years in prison. His plea is connected to the 1999 killings of Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons in Odisha. The Supreme Court had previously directed the Odisha Sentence Review Board to take a decision on the remission plea. At an earlier hearing, the Court had noted that the matter had already been repeatedly adjourned to enable the authorities to decide the application.
