CHANDIGARH: The Movement against State Repression (MASR) and the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), both human rights groups, have expressed concern over the lack of adequate medical facilities being provided to Chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organization (PHRO) Justice Ajit Singh Bains, who is currently lodged in Burail jail under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Preventive) Act (TADA).
Co-convenor and General Secretaries of the MASR Inderjit Singh Jaipee, Baljit Kaur and Ashok Singh, and President of the PUCL (Punjab) Mohinder jit Singh Sethi, in a joint statement have said “it pains us to say that Justice Ajit Singh Bains is not being provided medical facilities, specially keeping in view the fact that he is a chronic heart patient and has a long history to this effect.”
Justice Ajit Singh Bains had developed breathing trouble in the jail and the jail doctor had recommended that he should be shifted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Science (PGI) here. The Government disregarded the advice and got Justice Bains examined by the jail doctor.
The Human Rights Groups have expressed apprehension over Justice Bains health and asked the State Government to take appropriate steps immediately. They have warned that if Justice Bains develops any serious medical problem, they would hold the Government responsible.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh told newspersons at an informal get-together that Justice Bains could not be set free on “humanitarian and medical grounds” like the Akali leaders, who were freed earlier this month, because he had delivered a seditious speech at Anandpur Sahib on Holla Mohaila and had made derogatory remarks against a particular community.
“No, we cannot equate Tohra, Mann or Badal with Justice Bains, because even though they may have spoken about Khalistan and a separate Sikh nation, they have never made derogatory remarks about any case or community,” Beant Singh said.
Contrary to Beant Singhs statement, Akali leaders have made derogatory remarks in the past, but these have been ignored. There can be no denial of the fact that the Punjab Government is adopting double standards in the treatment of Akali leaders who have a fairly large following in the State, and Justice Bains who is not a political person.
It may be mentioned here that work in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and in several district courts in the State has remained suspended ever since Justice Bains was arrested from the Chandigarh Gold Club.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 15, 1992
