The Delhi High Court granted more time to the city government to respond to Balwan Khokhar’s plea seeking furlough for 21 days to restore family and social ties. The case will now be heard on December 5 as authorities submit their status report.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has given more time to the Delhi government to submit its reply in a case filed by former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, who is currently serving a life sentence in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Khokhar has approached the court seeking temporary release from jail on furlough so that he can reconnect with his family and re-establish his social relations.
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The matter was heard by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, who also allowed Khokhar’s request to prepone the hearing date that was earlier fixed for February 4, 2026.
Taking note of the plea, the High Court rescheduled the hearing to December 5 and directed the Delhi government as well as the jail authorities to file their detailed status report before the next date.
While passing the order, the court said,
“In the meantime, the state should place on record its reply,”
clearly instructing the authorities to respond to the issues raised by the convict regarding the rejection of his furlough application.
Balwan Khokhar has challenged the September 4 decision of the jail authorities, which denied him furlough on the ground that his temporary release could disturb public peace and law and order.
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In his plea, he has requested the court to set aside this rejection order and direct the authorities to grant him his first spell of furlough for 21 days, stating that the purpose is to rebuild family ties and reintegrate into society.
Furlough, as explained in legal terms, is a temporary release granted to long-term prisoners who have served a significant part of their sentence. It does not mean suspension or reduction of the sentence but is aimed at helping prisoners maintain social and family connections.
Khokhar was convicted in 2013 by a trial court for murder and rioting along with four other accused in a case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In the same case, former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was initially acquitted.
The incident relates to November 1, 1984, when five Sikh men were killed and a gurdwara in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad, was set on fire following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
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In December 2018, the Delhi High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of Balwan Khokhar while reversing the earlier acquittal of Sajjan Kumar. Khokhar’s appeal challenging the High Court’s verdict is still pending before the Supreme Court.
The case continues to attract attention due to its connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, one of the most sensitive chapters in India’s legal and political history, and the final decision on Khokhar’s furlough plea will now be closely watched when the matter comes up for hearing on December 5.
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