DSGMC Decides to Take Up Issue of Sikh Political Prisoners with NHRC

:dateline:After getting directions from Supreme Court, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today resolved to again approach National Human Right Commission (NHRC) to evolve a uniform mechanism for premature release of prisoners lodged in the jails. On basis of which, the DSGMC will take up the issue of Sikh political prisoners languishing various jails of India despite completion of their terms.

Actually, the DSGMC filed a petition in the Apex court in this regard and latter has given the liberty to DSGMC to approach the NHRC. The DSGMC had moved NHRC on 5 January 2015 but latter refused to hear the matter and former filed the petition in Supreme Court. In case NHRC failed to address the issue, the Supreme Court would hear the matter. This information was shared by the DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK in a press release.

�Very soon we are taking up the case with NHRC for evolving a mechanism for States and the Central Government so that there is uniform system across the states for release of such prisoners,� said Manjit Singh GK. DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, �We will continue to fight for justice to the Sikhs who are undergoing sentences in different jails of the country who were convicted in cases registered against them during the armed movement.�

Jaswinder Singh Jolly, legal advisor of DSGMC filed the petition in Supreme Court under article 32 of the Constitution of India. In the petition, he sought intervention for issuing directions to the central Government, state governments and the union territories in the country for directing them to coordinate amongst themselves for ensuring formulation of �uniform policies and guidelines� for �regular periodic assessment� and �review of the entire background, current status and present and past conduct of the convicts�, including their conduct during the period the accused were on bail, who have been sentenced with punishment of life imprisonment which would be the basis of their release.