Even as the Supreme Court vacated the stay on the state governments’ powers to remit sentences with riders, Punjab government is in quandary. Most of the “political prisoners” do not fall under the category of inmates whose sentence can be remitted by the states, as per Apex court’s Thursday order.
The development is significant as Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa, in his 80s, has been observing fast-unto-death since January 16 demanding release of such prisoners, who are languishing in jails across India even after completing their sentence—giving sleepless nights to the government authorities.
The health of Khalsa, who is in his 190th day of fasting on Friday, is deteriorating with each passing day, with the government authorities and the doctors at ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital trying to give him treatment forcibly.
While the Sikh organisations, supporting Khalsa’s protest, believed that SC ruling would pave way for prisoners’ release, the government is in catch-22 situation as, in the first instance, none of the prisoners falls under the category approved by the Apex Court.
SC has made it clear that prisoners, booked under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), or by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), or other central agencies, could not be released by the state governments. It has also barred the states from releasing prisoners facing rape and murder charges.
“Most of the prisoners whose release they are demanding falls under this category. They were either booked under TADA or by the CBI. Presently, the government is not in a position to do anything on the issue. As the SC has very clearly laid out the guidelines of release of the prisoners, we can hardly do anything,” said a senior government official, who did not wish to be named.
As of now, the SAD-led state government has been maintaining a strategic silence, with determined Khalsa refusing to bow down.
Punjab Education Minister Daljit Cheema had visited the hospital to ask for Khalsa’s well-being. Cheema met the family members but could not meet Khalsa.
Khalsa’s son Ravinderpal Singh Goggi said that he did not speak on the issue of releasing prisoners.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the doctors continued giving treatment to Khalsa despite his resistance. “He removed drips, but the doctors put it again. He seems quite fine,” one of his supporters informed.
Also, SAD (Mann) leader Jaswant Cheema, along with his 50 supporters, staged dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner's office against the police raid and arrest of Khalsa's supporters.
Khalsa’s protest was also supported by senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh, who stated that his demand was justified “as it is against the law and Constitution to keep someone behind bars who has completed his sentence”.
The former chief minister, in a statement, said that even the Supreme Court has said that states can take a call on such prisoners and expressed surprise as to why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was “delaying and complicating” the issue.
The Congress leader expressed concern over deteriorating health of Khalsa and appealed to him to end his fast.
Khalsa has been observing fast for over six months at Hassanpur village of ludhiana district seeking the release of 82 Sikh prisoners lodged in various jails of the country. Presently, the Sikh activist is undergoing treatment at a hospital in ludhiana.