The Delhi High Court has sought the Delhi government’s response to a plea by 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Balwan Khokhar seeking a 21-day furlough. The court will hear the matter on November 17, while co-accused Sajjan Kumar continues to face trial in related cases.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to respond to a plea filed by 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Balwan Khokhar, who is serving a life sentence, seeking a 21-day furlough.
The court will hear the matter on November 17. Khokhar was a co-accused with former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 Delhi Cantonment riots case.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued a notice to the concerned authorities and directed them to submit a response to Khokhar’s plea.
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During the hearing, the Additional Standing Counsel appearing for the Delhi government sought time to verify details and file a status report. The court then scheduled the next hearing for November 17.
According to the petition filed through Advocate Uday Chauhan, Khokhar stated that he has been serving a life sentence since 2013 and is currently lodged in jail.
The plea mentioned that he is seeking furlough for 21 days to “re-establish social ties with society and family members.” The Delhi government had earlier dismissed his application, following which he approached the High Court challenging that decision.
The plea reads that the petitioner is a convict undergoing life imprisonment and that furlough is being sought as part of his legal right to maintain social connections after long incarceration. The petition emphasized that such leave is meant to help convicts reintegrate into society and maintain family bonds.
Meanwhile, in a related development, a Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on October 29 directed the Prosecution to file written submissions in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar. Kumar is facing trial in cases registered at Janakpuri and Vikaspuri police stations.
The Janakpuri case is linked to the killing of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, on November 1, 1984.
The Vikaspuri case concerns the burning of Gurcharan Singh on November 2, 1984. These incidents are among the many that took place during the widespread violence following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh directed the prosecution to submit its written arguments and listed the case for final arguments on November 27 and December 4.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manish Rawat represented the prosecution, while Advocate Anil Kumar Sharma, along with Apoorv Sharma and S.A. Hashmi, appeared on behalf of Sajjan Kumar. Advocate Surpreet Kaur appeared for the riot victims.
The proceedings in both cases — Balwan Khokhar’s furlough plea and Sajjan Kumar’s ongoing trial — are part of the continuing judicial process related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, one of the darkest chapters in India’s history.
The Delhi High Court’s direction to the government to file a reply signals the next stage of hearing in Khokhar’s plea, while the Rouse Avenue Court’s move sets the stage for further arguments in Sajjan Kumar’s case.
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