Delhi Lt Governor's office sends back Afzal file

Four years after its opinion was sought by the Centre, the Delhi Government on Tuesday backed the death sentence for Afzal Guru, but with a remark that the implications of law and order should be closely examined while carrying out the execution of the Parliament attack convict.

In a late evening development, the Delhi Lt Governor's office sent back the file seeking more clarification over the remark of the Delhi Government.

"We received the file from Delhi Government pertaining to Afzal Guru's mercy petition yesterday. We have sent back the file to Delhi Government seeking further clarification," highly placed sources in the LG's office told PTI.

They indicated that the comment of Delhi Government on the issue was not very clear and that is why the file was sent back.

Asked to clarify specifically on the issue why the file has been returned, they refused to elaborate saying the issue is very sensitive.

The government sent the file after the 16th reminder from the home ministry recently seeking its opinion on the matter.

"We don't have any problem with the Supreme Court verdict but the implications of the law and order situation should be closely examined while carrying out the execution," a top government official said.

Guru was awarded death sentence by a Delhi court on December 18, 2002 after being convicted of conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001, waging war against the country and murder.