IB opposes Hawara's transfer to Punjab, Supreme Court adjourns hearing

The Intelligence Bureau has opposed in the Supreme Court the transfer of Jagtar Singh Hawara's custody from Tihar to barracks in Punjab. Presenting its stand before the court, the agency stated that this move could have a deep impact on the upcoming assembly elections and security arrangements in the state.

Following these objections by the IB, a bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale postponed further proceedings in the case to February 2027. Considering the details in the intelligence report extremely serious, the court refrained from passing any order on the transfer request for now.

Appearing for the central government, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati stated that the agency considers Hawara among high-risk detainees. The government argued that there are strict guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the transfer of such prisoners and security concerns persist given his past record.

During the hearing, Hawara's senior counsel S. Muralidhar told the court that if the election environment is the primary hurdle, this plea could be considered after three months. He also argued that Punjab's prisons are as strong and secure as Delhi's.

Hawara had sought to be sent to a high-security barracks in his home state on the grounds of meeting his elderly and ailing mother and being a native of Punjab. He is serving a life sentence in the 1995 Beant Singh assassination bomb blast case.

Key developments

• Intelligence Bureau formally opposed sending Hawara to Punjab in the Supreme Court.
• According to the agency, the prison transfer could impact the state's assembly elections and security environment.
• Supreme Court termed the IB report serious and adjourned the hearing till February 2027.
• Hawara's lawyer had proposed deferring the matter for three months until the elections pass.