Jaipur/ Chandigarh: The Rajasthan High Court has directed the Rajasthan government to consider the case of Sikh political prisoner Bhai Daya Singh Lahoriya for release on “permanent parole”. The case was heard by a bench headed by Rajasthan HC chief justice Pardeep Nandrajog and G. R. Moolchandani.
Bhai Daya Singh Lahoriya is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for life in a case related to kidnapping of Congress leader Ramnivas Mridha’s son Rajinder Mridha.
[File Photo] | Bhai Daya Singh Lahoriya had attended Antim Ardas of his mother in September 2016 under tight security
According a report in a local daily of the state, Rajashtan’s Additional Advocate General (AA-G) B. N. Sandu pleaded in the court that Daya Singh Lahoriya is presently lodged in the Tihar Jail and he was brought from USA under extradition treaty. AA-G said that Daya Singh Lahoriya was not eligible for remissions before undergoing 20 years of imprisonment.
Bhai Daya Singh Lahoriya’s counsels told the court that he has completed 20 years in prison but the state was not considering his case for ‘permanent parole’.
In it’s two page order the court observed: “We find that as per Annexure-1 being a legal notice sent under registered AD post request was made on behalf of the petitioner for being considered for grant of permanent parole. The pleadings in the writ petition, reply and rejoinder show that the State of Rajasthan has not considered petitioner’s request to be released on permanent parole”.
“We dispose of the petition directing that at the next Committee Meeting where cases of permanent parole are considered, case of the petitioner would also be considered and a reasoned decision would be taken. Needless to state, if the petitioner is released on permanent parole that would be the end of the matter”, the court order reads.
“If it is a case of rejection, the petitioner would be entitled to remedies as per law”, the HC noted in its order.