India, June 26 -- The Gujarat High Court has directed the state government to decide within six months the remission plea of a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Shahnawaz Bhatti, who is serving a life term after being arrested with 22 kg of RDX in 2001.

Justice MR Mengdey passed the direction on June 17 after being informed that the opinion of the Jail Advisory Committee had been sought on Bhatti's remission application.

"Having regard to these aspects, the concerned authority shall take an appropriate decision, in accordance with law, with regard to grant of remission to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of the order," justice Mengdey said.

Bhatti, a Pakistani natio...