The Supreme Court, on April 1, issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and Neelam Katara regarding the interim bail plea filed by Vikas Yadav, one of the convicts in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case.
Yadav, who has been serving a 25-year sentence, has requested a 15-day release to care for his ailing mother, who is currently admitted to Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan has directed AIIMS to constitute a medical board and submit a report on his mother’s health condition by April 15.
The court will hold the next hearing on the matter on the same date.
A Long-Running Legal Battle
The lower court and the High Court initially sentenced Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav to life imprisonment for murdering Nitish Katara on February 17, 2002.
However, upon appeal, the Supreme Court modified their sentences to 25 years without remission.
The court had rejected a plea for awarding the death penalty, ruling that the case, while brutal, did not fall under the ‘rarest of rare’ category.
It also dismissed demands for life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, emphasizing that while the crime was serious, it did not warrant such extreme sentencing.
Health Grounds For Bail
During the hearing, Vikas Yadav’s legal counsel argued that his mother’s deteriorating health required his presence for her care.
They highlighted that he has already spent over two decades behind bars and urged the court to grant him temporary relief.
The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and Neelam Katara, the victim’s mother, to submit their responses before the next hearing.
The decision on Yadav’s interim bail will depend on the medical report submitted by AIIMS and the arguments presented by both parties.
Court’s Balancing Act
This case once again raises the complex legal question of balancing punishment with humanitarian considerations.
While courts have upheld stringent sentences in the past, they have also granted temporary relief in exceptional circumstances.
The Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling will determine whether Vikas Yadav’s plea meets such criteria.
As the legal battle continues, the case remains one of India’s most closely watched murder trials, symbolizing the intersection of justice, privilege, and the rule of law.
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