Centre seeks fresh comments from Punjab, Chandigarh on Rajoana’s death sentence

New Delhi/ Chandigarh: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) India has written to the state governments of Punjab and ‘Union Territory’ (UT) of Chandigarh seeking fresh comments on the constitutional review petition moves against death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana. Bhai Rajoana is facing death sentence in Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case.

Media reports say the move comes after home minister Rajnath Singh decided to re-examine the case of the death row convict after BJPs key ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab led by chief minister Prakash Singh Badal had sought the release of 13 Sikh political prisoners serving life-term in various jails across the country, including those convited in the Beant Singh assassination case.

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana in police custody [File Photo]

It is notable that Balwant Singh Rajoana has himself not filed any review plea before the President of India, Punjab’s ruling party Badal Dal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) had taken up Bhai Rajoana’s case and moved a constitutional review petition against his death penalty with the President of India.

As per information the MHA has written to the administrator of Chandigarh for fresh opinion from Punjab government and Chandigarh administration. Incidentally, the MHA had earlier got no clear reply from the former Chandigarh administrator Shivraj Patil who had thrown the ball in the Centre’s court.

Media reports quote ‘sources’ saying that ‘keeping in view the fresh developments related to Tara Singh’s arrest and the new representations related to the case submitted to the home minister Rajnath Singh, the ministry will study the case afresh after it recieves the comments of the twin state governments’.