Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon may not receive his second masters certificate

Nagpur: Mumbai blasts accused Yakub Memon may not live to receive his second masters degree, in Political Science, which he earned while pursuing studies in the Central Prison here, as he is to be hanged on his birthday, July 30.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Yakub has done his MA in English Literature and Political Science in Nagpur jail through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Academically inclined Yakub studied Literature from 2010 to 2012 and pursued Political Science from 2012 to 2014. He was awarded the Literature degree in April 2013, though he was not allowed personally to receive the certificate due to security reasons.

"Later, it was handed over to him in his cell," Dr Shiva Swaroop, Regional Director of IGNOU, which conducts PG courses in Central Prison, said.

Yakub passed his MA Political Science too in December 2014 but the degree has not been conferred upon him so far.

"He may not live to get the MA Political Science degree (as per IGNOU records, Yakub's birth date is July 30, 1962)," Dr Swaroop said.

Recalling Yakub as a student, he said, "He (Yakub) showed keen interest in both the subjects and was very quiet. We provided books on the subject and shared inputs with him."

"I see all students but our principle is to stick to our business of teaching and providing counselling and not beyond that. We have idea of their criminal background but we never mix our teaching with it," he said.

Yesterday, a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had rejected Memon's curative petition, saying the grounds raised by him do not fall within the principles laid down by the apex court in 2002. He is due to be hanged on July 30.

The serial blasts in March 1993 had left 257 dead and over 700 injured. Yakub Memon is the only convict whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.

There are 550 prisoners in the Central jail in Nagpur and all them are pursuing their studies with IGNOU, which awards degrees a year after completing the course. Yakub is one of the six death row convicts lodged in the prison.