Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday rejected a petition against death sentence announced to Sikh Political Prisoner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana on technical grounds. The petition was filed by Bhai Rajoana’s sister Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur who had sought commutation of death sentence into imprisonment for life on the grounds of prolonged and undue delay in execution.
Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain who heard the petition said that Kamaldeep Kaur had no locus standi i.e. the right or capacity to bring a legal action or to appear before the court, to file such a petition on behalf of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana. The detailed judgement was not available yet.
Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana is facing death sentence awarded by an Indian court in a case related to execution of former Punjab CM Beant Singh.
Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana had not defended himself in the Indian courts saying that he had not faith in Indian system, including the judiciary. He openly admitted his involvement in the execution and made it clear that they had no personal enmity against CM Beant Singh and had acted under existential concerns. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Patiala.
It must be remembered the Akal Takht Sahib, supreme Sikh authority, has recognised Bhai Dilawar Singh as a “Sikh martyr”.