PIL in Supreme Court seeks removal of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt graves from Tihar Jail, citing Delhi Prison Rules, Prisons Act, and national security concerns.
Case in NewsPIL seeks removal of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt graves from Tihar Jail, citing Delhi Prison Rules violations . |
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Case Overview
Case Name : Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh vs. Union of India & Ors.
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court of India challenging the existence of graves of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt inside Tihar Jail (Central Jail, Delhi ). Both men, convicted for terrorism-related offences and awarded capital punishment, were executed within the prison . The petition was filed through AoR Barun Kumar Sinha, claiming that such burials violate prison regulations and pose security threats .
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Key Aspects
The petition points out serious legal, constitutional and security issues surrounding the burial of executed terrorists inside State-run jails .
- Graves of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt exist inside Tihar Jail premises .
- Claimed to be a site of “radical pilgrimage,” attracting extremist elements .
- Alleged violation of Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, prison discipline, and public order .
- Petitioner cites health risks to inmates and staff from graves inside prison .
- Alternative relief sought: relocation of mortal remains to a secret site .
Legal Insights
The plea relies on statutory provisions and prior practices in execution cases .
- Prisons Act, 1894 – no provision for creating graves or shrines in prisons .
- Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018 – mandate disposal of executed convicts’ bodies to prevent glorification .
- Delhi Jail Manual, 2018 – requires secure disposal to maintain order .
- DMC Act & Delhi Master Plan 2021 – prohibit unauthorized construction of religious or burial structures .
- Burial of Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon cited as examples where glorification was avoided .
Court’s Verdict
The Supreme Court has yet to deliver its verdict. The petition seeks directions to remove or relocate the graves of executed convicts ensuring compliance with law and preventing misuse of Central Jail premises for radicalised purposes .
Source – Supreme Court of India
Read also – Legal Glossary: Verdict
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