Taking up the panthic agenda, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday sought pre-mature release of 13 life convicts hailing from Punjab, presently lodged under TADA Act in the jails of various States across the country for the past several years. All of them have been convicted on terror charges.
Badal wrote separately to his counterparts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat besides lt-Governor, Delhi and Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh for their prompt release on humanitarian grounds.In separate letters, the Chief Minister emphasised on the need to consider their cases sympathetically as per the provisions of pre-mature release policy of their States so as to secure the release of these convicts expeditiously.
He asked them to appreciate that in India, we followed reformatory approach in furtherance of the Criminal Justice System.“When a prisoner spends more than stipulated period in jail and eligible to be considered for pre-mature release, when he is not released resentment in the minds of his near and dear ones is caused and also provide reasons for certain segments of society to agitate,” he said in the letter, apparently referring to a hunger strike in a Gurudwara in Ambala for the release of the convicts.
Apart from humanitarian ground, everybody deserves a chance to reform himself and get reintegrated into the society as a good member, the Chief Minister added.In his letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Badal urged him to consider the case of life convict, Waryam Singh presently lodged in Central Jail, Bareily (UP), who had already undergone incarceration of 22 years.
likewise, Badal also raised up the issue with the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje for the release of another life convict Gurmeet Singh Fauji currently lodged in Tonk jail, Rajasthan, who had already completed nine years out of 10 years imprisonment awarded to him.Badal also took up the matter with the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of releasing the life convict Daya Singh lahoria lodged in Tihar Jail, New Delhi, who has already completed 10 years of imprisonment against the life sentence awarded to him. Similarly, the Chief Minister also impressed upon the Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for the release of life convict lal Singh, presently lodged in maximum security jail Nabha (Punjab), who has already undergone incarceration of 22 years.
Badal also took up the matter, of releasing the life convict Gurdeep Singh Khaira, lodged in Gulberg Jail, Karnataka, who has already undergone imprisonment of 24 years with his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah.The CM also sought intervention of lt. Governor Delhi, Najeeb Jung for the release of life convict Davinder Pal Singh, presently lodged in Tihar jail, Delhi, whose death sentence awarded by the Additional Session Judge Delhi Court has already been commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court and the said convict had already completed imprisonment of 20 years.
likewise, Badal also requested the lG for the release of two more life convicts Parmjeet Singh Bheora and Jagtar Singh Hawara, both were lodged in Tihar jail, Delhi and had undergone incarceration of 19 years.Badal also took up the cases of five life convicts— Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, lakhwinder Singh, Subeg Singh and Nand Singh with the Administrator of UT Chandigarh, Shivraj V Patil for their release. All these convicts are lodged in Burail jail, Chandigarh, of which Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh and lakhwinder Singh have already completed 19 years of imprisonment while Subeg Singh and Nand Singh have undergone incarceration of 15 years.