Archive · 26 Jul 2025
Delhi HC Overturns SRB Decision on 1993 Hijack Convict's Release
Imagine someone was in big trouble and had to go to jail for a very long time because of something bad they did a long time ago, like hijacking a plane.
They asked to leave jail early.
The people in charge said no.
But a judge looked at the case and said the reasons why were not good enough.
The judge said the people in charge needed to think again.
The judge also said that the person had been behaving well in jail.
So, the people in charge have to look at the case again and decide if the person can leave jail earlier.
Delhi High Court set aside a decision by the Sentence Review Board (SRB) denying premature release to a 1993 plane hijack convict.
The court cited inadequate reasoning and non-consideration of relevant materials in the SRB's decision.
The case involves Hari Singh, convicted for hijacking an Indian Airlines flight with 192 passengers.
The court noted Singh's conduct in jail indicated elements of reformation.
The court remanded the matter back to the SRB for reconsideration within eight weeks.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court and Hari Singh, a 1993 plane hijack convict.
- What
- Delhi High Court set aside the Sentence Review Board's decision to deny premature release to a 1993 plane hijack convict.
- When
- The court issued its order on July 7, 2024.
- Where
- Delhi
- Why
- The court found the SRB's reasoning inadequate and didn't consider relevant information regarding the convict's conduct.
Sentence Review Board's concerns
High Court's ruling
Factors considered for premature release
Sentence Review Board's concerns
Gravity of the offense
High Court's ruling
Reformation demonstrated by convict's behavior during incarceration
- Convict
- Hari Singh
- Offense
- 1993 Indian Airlines Flight Hijacking
- Sentence
- Life Imprisonment
- Original Conviction Year
- 2001
- Actual Imprisonment Served
- 17 years, 11 months, and 6 days (as of May 12)
- Total Imprisonment Served
- 22 years, 6 months, and 20 days (including remission)
- Court's Action
- Remanded the matter back to SRB for reconsideration