Students taking part in Signature campaign at UCOE
Patiala (February 17, 2010): Students of University College of Engineering, Punjabi university Patiala signed in large numbers in favour of clemency to six utmost victims of Death penalty, including Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Dharampal, Piara Singh and others. “There are many legal flaws in awarding death punishment to Prof. Bhullar, for instance it was a split decision.” informed Avikal Goyel, Vice-President Sikh Students Federation, Punjabi University Patiala unit and a student of Laws.
Bhullar was sentenced to death and his appeal was turned down by Supreme Court of India in 2002. A clemency petition is pending before President of India since last seven years. In a separate petition, President of India is asked to grant clemency to Dharampal of Sonipat and Piara Singh, Satnam Singh and two others of Amritsar. Basis for their petition is their prolonged detention and inhuman conditions of living that they have suffered during last 16 and 18 years of their detention in jail.
“It would be unjust to hang Prof. Bhullar, as the main Judge of Supreme Court had acquitted him. Being a student of Engineering, the subject that Prof. Bhullar used to taught at GNE, Ludhiana, I have scribed to the view that his death penalty should be commuted.” said Sandeep Singh Panjdhera, a B.Tech third year student.
Parmjeet Singh Gazi, National President of SSF informed that this signature campaign is a part of world wide campaign initiated by Lawyers of Human Rights International (LFHRI) and World Coalition against Death penalty. “SSF is conducting this campaign in various educational institutions and next week the campaign shall be conducted at Panjab University, Chandigarh.” Gazi added.