Patiala, March 22
The Punjab Government seems to be buying time in persuading Balwant Singh Rajoana, the assassin of former CM Beant Singh, to challenge the death sentence against him. The Central Jail, Patiala, on Thursday received the Chandigarh court order telling the authorities to hang Rajoana.

The Punjab Jails Department wants the annulment of the 1982 understanding with the Chandigarh administration according to which their condemned prisoners could be lodged in Punjab jails.

A meeting of senior Jail Department officials, Chief Secretary’s office and the Accountant General’s office was held today behind closed doors to discuss the matter in detail. The meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary who would apprise the Chief Minister about the developments.

In Patiala, senior jail officials were busy reading the contents of the Chandigarh court’s orders that were received today and held consultations with the Advocate General’s office to find a solution.

“An old Supreme Court judgment in a similar case was also discussed at length. A final decision on whether to send the summons back again will be taken after going through the outcome of the meeting summoned by the Akal Takht in Amritsar,” said insiders in the Jail Department.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Jails Department DGP Shashi Kant today wrote to the Punjab Home Department urging it to immediately annul the 1982 agreement according to which hardcore criminals could be lodged inside Punjab jails.