HC seeks status report on Manu Sharma’s plea for parole

The Delhi high court on Monday asked the city government to file its report regarding the status of the application of Jessica Lal murder case convict Manu Sharma, seeking a month-long parole to appear in LLB semester exams. “Delhi government is directed to file the status report regarding the parole application of the petitioner (Sharma) on or before December 10. Jail authorities are also directed to file the nominal role of the petitioner,” a Bench of Justice Ashutosh Kumar said.

During the brief hearing, senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi government, said that the state government was not opposing the plea of Sharma and it has been forwarded to competent authority that is LG on November 5. Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, appearing for Sharma, said that the examination is slated to commence from December 28 but before that Sharma has to appear for two days Personal Contact Programme starting from December 11. 

Earlier on November 26, the court had issued notice to Delhi government and sought its response on Sharma’s plea. Sharma, who is undergoing a life term in the murder case, has completed a post-graduate diploma in Human Rights and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Law course from Annamalai University, Chennai. He was earlier granted 30-day parole on December 26, 2014 to appear for his post-graduation exams with a condition that he would keep away from the area around the residence of Jessica and her family members.