"Don't Lecture Judiciary": Pinnacle court to Union over Abu Salem Plea

The Supreme Court's remark came on the house Ministry's affidavit that said "it isn't the suitable time" for the govt. to require a call which the Supreme Court may choose the case involving Abu Salem.

On gangster Abu Salem's petition against his jail sentence exceeding 25 years, the Supreme Court today used stern words while rejecting the Union Home Ministry's stance that the plea is premature. The Supreme Court also objected to the Centre asking it to come to a decision on the case.

"Don't lecture the judiciary. We don't take it kindly once you tell us to come to a decision something which you've got to determine," Justice SK Kaul told the house Ministry.

"The Secretary of State for the Home Department is nobody to inform us to come to a decision the problem," the judge said.

The Supreme Court also said the centre must be unequivocal in what they require to mention. "We don't like sentences within the Home Ministry affidavit like 'we will take a choice at an appropriate time'," said the judges.

The Home Ministry, in its affidavit, had said "it isn't the suitable time" for the govt. to require a turn Abu Salem's case which the Supreme Court may decide.

Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh were hearing a petition by Abu Salem, a convict within the 1993 Bombay blast case, that India had sure to Portugal courts that his jail sentence cannot exceed 25 years.

On Tuesday, Union cabinet minister Ajay Bhalla told the Supreme Court that the govt. was bound by the reassurance given by then deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to the Portugal government that any sentence handed dead set Abu Salem won't exceed 25 years.

Abu Salem was extradited from Portugal on national holiday, 2005, after a drawn out legal battle. .

In 2017, Abu Salem was convicted and sentenced to a life term for his role within the 1993 serial blast case in Mumbai. He was found guilty of transporting weapons from Gujarat to Mumbai previous the blasts.

In an unprecedented attack on Mumbai on March 12, 1993, a series of bomb explosions materialized during a span of two hours, leaving 257 dead and quite 700 people injured. .