CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The Punjab & Haryana High Court on January 16 rejected a petition moved by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal’s legislator Bibi Jagir Kaur, seeking a stay on her conviction. Notably, Bibi Jagir Kaur had moved a petition citing a relaxation given by Supreme Court of India to Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah in a Disproportionate Assets case. The Apex Court had stayed Langah’s conviction to let him contest the assembly polls.
Division bench of High Court headed by Justice A.K Mittal said that Bibi Jagir Kaur’s case couldn’t be compared with Langah’s case as Bibi Jagir Kaur has been convicted under criminal charges of murder. The Court further said that the Supreme Court granted a stay on the conviction of Sucha Singh Langah as 15 other leaders like him were acquitted by the Court in similar politically motivated cases.
Justice A.K Mittal said that if the Court allows stay on conviction to Bibi Jagir Kaur then a negative message about Judiciary will prevail amongst the public, that could result in distrust in the Indian Judiciary.
It may be recalled here that Ex-SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur was convicted by the CBI Courts under charges of abduction, illegal confinement and forcible abortion in her daughter’s murder case. She was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the CBI court.
