Chandigarh, Punjab (March 21, 2012): The “Lawyers for Human Rights International” (LFHRI) has moved the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stay on the execution of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana.
As per information sent to “Sikh Siyasat” by Advocate Navkiran Singh it is argued in the court that the judgement confirming the death sentence of Balwant Singh was still under appeal before the Supreme Court of India.
‘The Court may visualise a situation, where the Supreme Court acquits Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh in the matter, whereas Balwant Singh has already lost his life due to execution of his death sentence as a consequence of orders passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Chandigarh. It would be great injustice and the judicial system would not be able to justify the hurried action of it’s in executing Balwant Singh, as by that time the life of Balwant Singh had already been snuffed and irreparable loss could have been caused, which cannot be reversed’ the petitioner has argued.
He further pleads that “the present Civil Writ Petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of Mandamus or any other writ order or direction, with the prayer this Hon’ble Court should pass orders staying the operation of the order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, wide which it has been ordered that Balwant Singh an accused in the murder case of Ex. Chief Minister of Punjab late S. Beant Singh and 17 others be executed on March 31, 2011 at 9.00 A.M, since the judgement wide which the death sentence of Balwant Singh has been confirmed is under appeal before the Hon’ble Supreme court of India and the Special Leave Petition filed by the C.B.I. against the conviction of Jagtar Singh Hawara has been admitted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on December 5, 2012 and so the decision in this case has not yet reached it’s finality”.
The case was listed for hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover today (March 21), but the bench ordered the case to be listed for March 21 (Thursday) before another bench.