The superintendent of Central Jail, Patiala, on Tuesday again refused to accept the death warrants of Balwant Singh Rajoana.
In a release issued by the Punjab government, the superintendent has pleaded the additional sessions judge Chandigarh that he “unable and disabled in law” to accept warrants of death against Balwant Singh Rajoana and refused to accept the same. He told the court that he was approaching the higher court for appropriate next step in the case.
The superintendent of the Central Jail, while refusing to accept the warrants, brought to the notice of the court that there were legal infirmities in the procedure. It had also requested the court for deferment of sentence as decision of Supreme Court of India in the appeals of Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha and Jagtar Singh Hawara, the other two accused in the case is pending adjudication.
The superintendent of the jail contended that it was his bounded duty to ensure that the procedure established by law is meticulously followed before executing the death sentence. He said that as per the Supreme Court guidelines prior to actual execution of any death sentence, the jail superintendent should ascertain personally whether the death sentence imposed upon any of the co-accused of the prisoner, who is due to be hanged has been commuted and if it has been commuted. The superintendent should apprise the superior authorities of the matter, who in turn, must take prompt steps for bringing the matter to the notice of the courts concerned.