Chandigarh: Representatives of certain Sikh organizations reportedly met Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal on January 10 on the issue Sikh political prisoners detained in various jails in Punjab and other parts of Indian subcontinent event after serving minimum mandatory terms of their sentences.
The meeting was reportedly attended by Advocate Rajvinder Singh Bains, R P Singh, Professor Mehar Singh Malhi, Parminder Singh Amloh and Harjeet Singh who discussed details related to Sikh political prisoners with Punjab CM and other state officials.
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An update by Sikh Relief says ‘in this detailed, high level meeting which started in the morning and went on into the afternoon, legal advisers on both sides sat and debated at length, the options and avenues available to expedite the release of those prisoners who have served their minimum sentences’.
The Punjab government has recently come under considerable pressure and criticism for their inaction on this issue from all quarters of society and Sikh delegation presented the government with facts and figures of those prisoners who fall within the States authority and are eligible for release.
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Pointing out the ‘outcomes’ of the meeting, the Sikh Relief says Gurdeep Singh Khaira’s paperwork for transfer to Punjab has been completed and returned to the Karnataka authorities.
DIG of Punjab prisons, Lakhwinder Singh Jhakkar, who was also at the meeting, phoned Dr Arjun Malik Swamy, Superintendent of Gulbarga Jail in Karnataka, and Dr Swamy said as soon as he has the file in hand, the transfer procedure will be underway. He stressed this will take up to one month to complete.
“Secondly, it was established that the Supreme Court’s ruling of July 2014, halts a States power to release life term prisoners without it going to the Supreme Court. However, our legal team demanded that while an appeal against this ruling is pending, the authorities need to consider other options of reprieve” said Sikh Relief.
Other matters discussed, were concerning parole leave for Sikh political prisoners.