Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, July 15: The Supreme Court has directed the Odisha government-appointed committee to decide the premature release plea of life convict Dara Singh by August 19 in connection with the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons.

A Bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on Singh's petition after the Odisha government sought a brief postponement, informing the Court that the committee examining the application had requested the relevant prison and case records, which were yet to be made available.

Taking note of the government's submission, the apex court deferred the matter until August 19 and observed that it expects the committee to take a decision on Singh's plea before the next hearing.

"In the meantime, we expect that the Committee shall take its decision," the Bench stated.

Dara Singh, also known as Rabindra Kumar Pal, is serving a life sentence for the gruesome killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons—Philip and Timothy—who were burnt alive on the night of January 22, 1999.

​​​​​​​The victims were sleeping inside their station wagon outside a church in Manoharpur village in Odisha's Keonjhar district when the vehicle was set on fire by a mob led by Singh.

Seeking premature release, Singh has approached the Supreme Court through Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain. In his petition, he contended that he has completed more than 24 years of actual imprisonment without remission, exceeding the minimum period prescribed under the Odisha government's policy governing premature release of life convicts.

The plea further stated that Singh has never been granted parole during his incarceration, even after the death of his mother, and argued that continued imprisonment despite fulfilling the eligibility criteria violates his fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

Expressing remorse for the crime, the petition stated that Singh "acknowledges and deeply regrets the transgressions perpetrated more than two decades ago" and claimed that he has undergone significant personal reform during his prolonged imprisonment.

The petition also invoked the principle of reformative justice, asserting that Singh has realised the consequences of his actions, repented for the offence, and now seeks an opportunity to reintegrate into society as a reformed individual.

Additionally, the plea alleged discriminatory treatment, claiming that other similarly placed life convicts have been granted premature release under the state's remission policy, while his application continues to remain pending.