New Delhi: Aug 24: Can Kerala’s most dreaded death-row convict be shifted to Assam?
The Supreme Court on Monday put the ball in Kerala’s court, asking it to respond to Perumbavoor rape-murder convict Muhammed Ameer-Ul-Islam’s plea for transfer from Viyyur Central Jail to an Assam prison close to his family.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu sought Kerala’s reply.
Ameer-Ul-Islam, a migrant worker from Assam, is the lone convict sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a Dalit law student at Perumbavoor on April 28, 2016. Convicted in December 2017 on DNA evidence, his death sentence was confirmed by the Kerala High Court. The apex court stayed his hanging in July 2024.
His counsel, senior advocate Rebecca John, argued that the bar on shifting death-row inmates till appeals are over no longer applies as appellate proceedings are concluded.
The court asked — has Assam agreed to take him?
Assam said it will decide once Kerala clears the move. Kerala is yet to take a call.
In his plea, Ameer-Ul-Islam said his wife and aged parents live in Assam and cannot afford to travel to Kerala to meet him.
