The file pertaining to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s mercy petition is likely to be sent to Union home ministry by lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna within a week.
“The lieutenant-governor is studying the file minutely. Most likely, it will be sent to home ministry within next one week,” said a senior official at the L-G’s office.
The Delhi government last week sent its views on Guru’s mercy petition to the lieutenant-governor with comments that it had no objection to the hanging but its implications on law and order need to be kept in mind.
The city government’s move came after the 16th reminder from Union home ministry recently seeking its opinion on the matter. The Delhi government has taken nearly four years to give its opinion after the capital punishment awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab in the Mumbai attacks case brought the issue under fresh focus.
Meanwhile, Guru has approached Delhi government seeking his transfer from the Tihar jail here to a prison in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir. After receiving the application, the Delhi government has sent it to the Jammu and Kashmir government for its opinion, confirmed a senior official.