Chandigarh, April 25. LS Jakhar, Superintendent, Patiala Jail, today appeared in the district courts in connection with the contempt of court notice issued to him in the Rajoana hanging case. Jakhar appeared in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal and tendered an apology in his reply. The court has deferred the next hearing of the case to May 5.
On March 27, the court had issued contempt of court notice to Jakhar for returning the death warrants to hang Balwant Singh Rajoana, convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, twice to the court. The hanging was however, stayed by the Centre later on. In his reply today, Jakhar stated that he had no intention to lower the authority of the court and while tendering an apology, it was stated that he abided by the guidelines of the Supreme Court while returning the death warrants.
He contended that the death warrant could not have been executed as the matter of other convict, Lakhwinder Singh, in the former Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case, was still pending before the SC. He was thus performing his duty by apprising the court.
Earlier on March 27, while returning the death warrants, the court had stated, “The Superintendent, Patiala Jail, has not once, but on two occasions, refused to execute the warrants of sentence of death by way of written communication dated March 19 and March 24. These publications intend to interfere with the due course of judicial proceedings, obstruct the administration of justice and also lower the authority of the court.” (TNS)
