A Delhi court on Thursday directed the officials concerned of DelhiUniversity, Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Tihar Jail to make arrangements for December 16 gang rape accused Vinay Sharma to write his BA first year exams from prison premises.
The court's direction came while dismissing his plea for interim bail to write his first year BA (Programme) examination to be conducted by the school of open learning, University of Delhi scheduled from June 19 to June 26.
"Notice be issued to the concerned officer of the IGNOU, concerned officer of school of open learning, Delhi University and superintendent, Tihar Jail for making necessary arrangements for conducting examination of accused (Vinay) at the IGNOU centre at Tihar Jail," vacation judge and Additional District Judge Neelam Singh said adding, "bail application is hereby dismissed".
On Wednesday, a vacation judge at Patiala House court had refused to hear Vinay's plea, saying it had "no jurisdiction" and had asked him to move the concerned court at Saket.
Advocate A P Singh, appearing for Vinay, informed the court that though he missed his first paper scheduled on June 19, the police can still make arrangements for him to write it in future if they take permission from the concerned university.
Special Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan opposed the one month interim bail plea of Vinay, saying there is an IGNOU Centre at Tihar jail and directions be given to the concerned officer of IGNOU and DelhiUniversity along with Tihar jail Superintendent that the examination of the accused be conducted in prison.
He submitted that the trial is at the fag end and there is every likelihood that Vinay may flee from justice. Mohan also said if Vinay is allowed to go out to write his examination in judicial custody, a huge amount of security personnel will have to be deployed as he may be attacked due to "social sentiments attached with this case" and "so we can't take any risk".
The prosecutor also said the expenses of security will have to be borne by Vinay who cannot afford it.
Vinay had sought interim bail for a month saying he had to appear in BA (Programme) examination to be conducted by the school of open learning, University of Delhi.
He had initially moved the Saket court after receiving the admit card for his exams last Saturday, Vinay's counsel had told the vacation judge at Patiala House, adding, they were directed to approach Patiala House court as Vasant Vihar police station, where gang rape case was registered, falls under its jurisdiction.
The vacation court at Patiala House, however, had directed them to approach the court at Saket.
Besides Vinay, three co-accused -- Akshay, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh -- are facing trial for allegedly gang-raping a paramedic student in a moving bus here. The victim succumbed to injuries on December 29 last year at a Singapore hospital.
Ram Singh, the driver of the bus, who was also an accused, was found dead in Tihar jail in March. Proceedings against him stand abated. The sixth accused in the case is a juvenile who is facing trial before the juvenile justice board.
