Ludhiana/Chandigarh (August 23, 2012): It is learnt from Sikh Siyasat’s sources that Punjab and Haryana Hight Court today redirected Gujrat Government to consider the matter of pre-mature release of Bhai Lal Singh Akalgarh, who is undergoing life imprisonment at Maximum Security Jail (MSJ) Nabha. A similar order is also passed in case of Bhai Major Singh, whereby Uttar Pardesh Government is directed to consider the matter of pre-mature release of Bhai Major Singh, who is undergoing life imprisonment at MSJ, Nabha.
Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur has confirmed that such orders are passed by Justice Paramjeet Singh of Punjab and Haryana High Court, though he expressed inability to furnish any details as he was yet to receive the copy of orders.
According to information available with Sikh Siyasat the court has granted 90 days parole to Bhai Lal Singh and Bhai Major Singh. It has also directed Gujrat and UP governments to consider the respective matters and take a decision with in 45 days.
Bhai Lal Singh is behind the bars since 1992 while Bhai Major Singh’s confinement dates back to 1991. Both have undergone a term exceeding the legal term that is considered in law as equivalent to life imprisonment.
It is notable that in India life term may extend to entire life of a convict but in practise convicts are released after expiration of fourteen years. Such release is called pre-mature release of a life convict.
Bhai Lal Singh & Bhai Major Singh’s counsel has contended that both matters were fit cases for pre-mature release as both prisoners have successfully completed more than fifteen terms of parole. There was no negative mark on their file by jail authorities or authorities of their native places where they used to spend their paroles. High Court judge is said to have agreed to the arguments raised by petitioners’ counsel and issued respective directives to the concerned governments.
It is notable that the court had reserved this decision on May 03, 2012.