Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal forms committee to resolve cases of Sikh prisoners

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday constituted a high-level committee to ensure timely resolution of pending matters related to Sikh prisoners within the ambit of existing rules and regulations.

The committee comprises of Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Principal Secretary Jails, Additional Director Generals of Intelligence and Prisons besides four representatives of Sikh organisations.

The committee has been mandated to examine such specific cases meticulously so as to ensure timely release of these prisoners lodged in different jails of Punjab and outside the state, an official release said here.

A decision to this effect was taken by Badal here during the meeting with the representatives of the some Sikh organisations to review the situation arising out of on fast unto death by 80-year-old Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa.

Khalsa has been demanding release of some Sikh detainees who are lodged in various jails of the country claiming that they have completed their sentences.

The Chief Minister also assured them the committee would examine on priority each and every case as per the list of 82 cases submitted by the representatives of the Sikh organisations in the meeting.

They were informed in the meeting that the Chief Minister had already personally taken up this issue with the Chief Ministers of the concerned states, the release said.

Badal deputed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to pursue this matter with these state governments and also asked him to visit these states to ensure timely action as permissible under law.

The representatives also impressed upon the Chief Minister to consider the matter of getting the convicts lodged in other states transferred to Punjab.

Badal assured them that the state government would look into their all requests and issues with required "sensitivity and sympathy."