Delhi High Court Rejects Plea to Remove Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt's Graves from Tihar Jail

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking removal of the graves of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat from the Tihar Jail premises. Terming it a "highly sensitive matter," the court said the government's well-considered decision taken more than a decade ago cannot be reopened now.

During Wednesday's hearing, the court clarified that the decision to bury the body within the prison premises after the execution was made after considering the potential consequences and circumstances at the time. The court stated, "The grave has been there for 12 years. This was a policy decision of the government. There is no question of changing it now."

The court remarked that only the competent authority (the government) has the authority to decide in such cases. The court asked, "Did the government take into account the consequences of handing over the body to the family or allowing burial outside Tihar Jail? These are very sensitive issues. The government must have made this decision after considering all aspects. Can we now challenge that decision after 12 years?"

The court also said that unless there is a law that prohibits burial or cremation within the prison premises, it is not appropriate for the court to interfere.

It should be noted that Mohammad Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail in 2013 after being convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack. JKLF founder Maqbool Bhatt was also hanged there. The bodies of both were buried inside the prison complex.