By Sanjay Sharma, Srishti Ojha: The Supreme Court will hear on May 8 the plea of late IAS officer G Krishnaiah’s wife Uma Devi, who has challenged the release of former Bihar MP Anand Mohan.
The petition was mentioned before a bench presided by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The bench agreed to hear the matter on May 8.
Last month, Anand Mohan was released from Saharsa jail after the state government tweaked the Bihar Prisons Manual 2012, facilitating his release. He was convicted in the 1994 Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah murder case.
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According to Uma Devi’s petition, the amendment made to remission rules is against public policy and the said amendment was based on mala fide considerations and for political gains.
The petition stated that the Bihar government amended the Bihar Prison Manual 2012 with retrospective effect through amendment dated April 10, 2023, in order to ensure that Anand Mohan got the benefit of the remission.
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Further, the plea termed the amendment as a breach of public policy that has resulted in the demoralisation of civil servants. As per the plea, the premature release of Anand Mohan was also contrary to the idea of a welfare state.
According to the petition, various relevant factors for the grant of remission to Anand Mohan were not taken into consideration and the Supreme Court guidelines for premature release were also not considered.
The petition further says the policy of remission at the time of Anand Mohan’s conviction should have been considered while deciding his application for premature release.
