JBT scam: HC extends Chautala parole by four weeks
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday extended by four weeks the parole of INLD chief O P Chautala, serving 10-year jail term in the teachers' recruitment scam, to observe the last rites rituals following his wife's death.
Chautala was granted parole by the Delhi government on August 12 following his wife's death the previous day in a hospital in Gurgaon. His parole will expire on August 27.
Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar noted that Chautala has been getting paroles by the court and the Delhi government, and extended the parole for four weeks with effect from August 27.
The authorities status report stated that as per the panchayat members of the village, the 'pooja' will continue till September 22, for which the head presence of the family, that is Chautala, is required.
Chautala's counsel said the INLD chief was required to be present at his house to observe 40-day post-cremation rites.
The petition, filed through advocate Amit Sahni, said as the wedding of Chautala's grandson is expected to happen by the end of this year, the customary rites and ceremonies are required to be followed for 40 days
Chautala's presence is essential for rendering prayers to his departed wife, it said.
He was earlier given parole in July to attend the engagement ceremony of his grandson.
Chautala, his son Ajay and three others are serving 10-year jail term each in the case.
The Supreme Court in August 2015 had dismissed Chautalas' appeals against the high court's verdict upholding their conviction and the jail term awarded by a trial court in the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers' recruitment scam case.
The high court had on March 5, 2015 upheld the 10-year jail terms awarded to the two Chautalas and three others, saying that "overwhelming evidence showed spine-chilling state of affairs in the country".
The father-son duo and 53 others, including two IAS officers, were among 55 persons convicted on January 16, 2013 by the trial court for illegally recruiting 3,206 JBT teachers in Haryana in 2000.
