Sheila blames Afzal’s mercy plea mix-up on top officers

Absolving herself of the charges of delaying verdict on the mercy petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Sheila Dikshit said the delay was caused because of the conflicting point of views of two chief secretary rank officers.

Absolving herself of the charges of delaying verdict on the mercy petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said the delay was caused because of the conflicting point of views of two chief secretary rank officers.

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“One of our officers had given an opinion while another officer had a different take. Both of them are chief secretary rank officers. They both said that it (hanging Afzal Guru) could have law and order implications,” she said after the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Sources said one of the officers, who is now retired, had completely opposed carrying out the execution in the city.
“I just wanted to clarify that we never had the intention to oppose the Supreme Court verdict (against Guru),” she said.
After Dikshit cleared the file last week, it is now with Lt Governor Tejender Khanna, who is “thoroughly studying it”.