Govt defends jessica case witness’ appointment

The Delhi government on Wednesday defended in the Supreme Court its decision to appoint Shravan Kumar, a key witness in the Jessica Lall murder case, in the Delhi police department even though he was “overaged”(sic) and academically “under qualified”.

The Delhi government on Wednesday defended in the Supreme Court its decision to appoint Shravan Kumar, a key witness in the Jessica Lall murder case, in the Delhi police department even though he was “overaged”(sic) and academically “under qualified”.

HT Image

Responding to a query from a bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and Swatanter Kumar, Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam admitted Shravan Kumar (27) was neither a matriculate nor below the age of 21 years of age, which are mandatory requirements for appointment to a police constable’s post in Delhi police.

He, however, defended the appointment, though improper, as a measure of rewarding him for his bravery.

“If there if one person who was able to speak the truth without fear, it was him (Shravan). He was the backbone of the investigations,” the Solicitor General told the bench.

Kumar, while working as a homeguard, had tried to stop two other accused from taking away the vehicle belonging to main convict Manu Sharma.

The High Court which awarded life imprisonment to Manu Sharma.