[BREAKING] Central govt urges Supreme Court to accept Justice DK Jain report in Nambi Narayanan case, take action against erring police officers

The Central government has urged the Supreme Court to accept the sealed cover report submitted by former Supreme Court judge, Justice DK Jain in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) espionage case.

. It also batted for strict action against delinquent police officials who had attempted to frame scientist, Nambi Narayanan in case such a recommendation has been made in the report by Justice Jain.

. An impleadment application to that effect was filed before the top court by Central government.

. "The present application has been filed by the Applicant Union of India to beseech this Hon’ble Court to accept on record, the report filed by the Committee headed by Justice D.K. Jain in the present appeal, and to pass necessary directions and/or orders, to give effect to the suggestions in the said report, regarding steps to taken against the erring officials," the application said.

. The plea will be heard next week.

. The Supreme Court had, in September 2018, held that prosecution initiated by the Kerala police against Narayanan in the mid 1990s in the ISRO espionage case was malicious and had caused tremendous harassment to him.

It had, therefore, ordered a compensation of Rs. 50 lakh to Naryanan and also constituted a Committee headed by Justice DK Jain , to ascertain whether action needs to be taken against erring police officials.

. The committee had, after inquiry, submitted its report to the Court in a sealed cover few days ago.

. Nambi Narayanan was a scientist at ISRO and was in charge of the Cryogenics division. In 1994, he was falsely accused of leaking defence secrets to enemy countries and was arrested by the Kerala Police under the Official Secrets Act.

He was later acquitted of all charges in 1998.

He had then initiated litigation for action against erring police officials who had framed the false case against him. He had accused the Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau of torturing him with a view to extracting statements from him.

. He first approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking compensation for the torture and agony inflicted upon him.

The NHRC had awarded him an interim compensation of Rs. 10 lakh.

Narayanan then filed a writ petition in Kerala High Court challenging the decision of the State to refrain from taking any action against erring police officers. A Single Judge of the High Court allowed the same. However, a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court had turned down his plea, leading to appeal in the Supreme Court.

. The apex court while allowing the appeal and ordering him compensation in 2018 had observed that Narayanan was needlessly arrested and tortured.

. The situation invites the public law remedy for grant of compensation for violation of the fundamental right envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Court had held while also directing an inquiry into the culpability of police officials.

[BREAKING] Central govt urges Supreme Court to accept Justice DK Jain report in Nambi Narayanan case, take action against erring police officers

Debayan Roy

Related Stories