SC seeks Kerala response on death row convict's transfer plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought Kerala government's response on a plea filed by death row convict Muhammed Ameer-Ul-Islam, seeking transfer from a Kerala jail to an Assam prison.

Ameer-Ul-Islam is the sole convict sentenced to death for rape and murder of a Dalit law student in Kerala's Perumbavoor in 2016.

A bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu issued notice on his plea, seeking transfer from Viyyur Central Prison in Kerala to a jail in Assam, where his wife and aged parents reside. Ameer-Ul-Islam's counsel argued that a prisoner sentenced to death cannot ordinarily be transferred without special permission from the government, except in circumstances where the prisoner's presence is required before a court.


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The counsel said the proceedings referred to in the provision had already concluded, pointing out that the Kerala High Court had confirmed the death sentence.

SC, however, asked whether Assam has consented to the proposed transfer. The counsel for the convict submitted that Assam is yet to consider the issue since it would decide on the request only after Kerala permits the transfer.

The counsel appearing for Assam also told the bench that the state would consider the request if Kerala allowed the transfer. The apex court subsequently issued notice to the Kerala government asking it to file its response.