The Bombay High Court on Wednesday orally observed that the Maharashtra Home department order to keep ’93 blast convicts — who had prayed for premature release as they had already spent 14 years in prison— behind bars for 60 years in accordance with the state government’s latest guidelines was not acceptable.

The observation came in response to petitions filed by 1993 serial blasts convicts who face imprisonment for 60 years or until they attain the age of 65 as per the state government’s latest guidelines for those convicted in terror offences.

“This is not acceptable,” Justice Bilal Nazki said.

The court had last month pulled up the state Home department for leaking its order on the matter of premature release of the petitioners to the press before the court was informed of the order.

The court had expressed displeasure at not being informed about the order during the hearing on August 12, even though it was passed on August 4 as per the report that appeared in a section of the media. The court had then sought an explanation.

On Tuesday, an affidavit by Anna Dani, Principal Secretary (Appeals and Security), stated they had no intention of keeping the court in the dark about the decision. Dani also stated that petitioners’ lawyer N N Gawankar was aware of the order as it was communicated to the convicts. Gawankar, however, told the court that he was not aware of the order and had come to know about it through the press.

... contd.