The Tribune, November 13, 1999
Jasbir murder: govt decision flayed
From Our Correspondent
ROHTAK, Nov 12 — The Haryana unit of the CPM and the Student Federation of India (SFI) have condemned the decision of Haryana Government to get the life sentence of two main convicts in the student leader Jasbir Singh murder case remitted.
In a statement issued here yesterday, Mr Inderjit Singh, secretary, CPM described this decision by Haryana Cabinet and the state Governor as criminal misuse of power. The party also appealed to other political parties, democratic organisations, social institutions and intellectuals to publicly condemn this act. He alleged that the Chautala government's decision, taken within three months of coming to power, proved that his government intended to continue the policy of providing patronage to criminal elements.
It may be recalled that a student of MA and president of Haryana unit of the SFI Jasbir Singh was murdered on October 23, 1986, on the campus of Kurukshetra University. In a decade-long legal battle, the Supreme Court held four of the accused responsible for the murder. In a judgement delivered on July 9,1997, two accused Satya Prakash and Satbir were awarded life imprisonment, while two others were convicted to five years' rigorous imprisonment.
On the recommendation of the Haryana Cabinet, the Governor of Haryana remitted the punishment on October 21 this year of the two of the main convicts undergoing life imprisonment and released them. He said this decision of nullifying the punishment awarded by the Supreme Court would erode the faith of the people in legal system and judiciary.
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