New Delhi, Oct 19: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed a fresh assessment of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s sentence by the Sentence Review Board (SRB), asking that the minutes of the meeting, once held, be submitted before the court. The decision came during the hearing of a plea seeking reconsideration of Bhullar’s sentence and his eligibility for remission under prison rules.
Bhullar, convicted in connection with the 1993 assassination attempt on then Indian Youth Congress chief MS Bitta, has been serving a life term since the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment in March 2014. The apex court had cited prolonged delays in the disposal of his mercy petition while overturning the capital punishment.
Bhullar was sentenced to death by a designated TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities [Prevention] Act) court in Delhi on August 25, 2001, for his role in the blast that killed nine people and injured more than two dozen, including Bitta.
Tarlochan Singh, former Rajya Sabha MP and ex-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, has urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to convene the SRB meeting promptly. Writing to her, he emphasized the need to deliver long-delayed justice to Bhullar, who has reportedly been hospitalised for years. “It is imperative that the Board examines his case without further delay and ensures that justice is not postponed indefinitely,” Singh noted in his letter.
The court’s directive aims to ensure a formal reassessment of Bhullar’s sentence and brings attention to his longstanding health and legal concerns. A fresh review by the SRB could determine whether Bhullar is eligible for remission or other relief under prison guidelines.
Bhullar’s case has remained in the spotlight for decades, drawing attention from human rights activists and legal experts who have repeatedly highlighted the delays in reviewing his sentence. The Delhi High Court’s order signals renewed judicial scrutiny and an opportunity for the matter to move forward after years of procedural limbo.
