Court issues order in ignored undertrial’s case

Bharat Bhushan, son of Swaran Singh, resident of Kashmiri Mohalla in the border tehsil of Akhnoor, 28 km from here, was arrested allegedly on the charges of stealing Rs 112.10 from a post office in 1993 and few petty articles from a government school.

The petition further pleaded that since December 1999, till date, there had been six hearings but not even once the alleged accused was produced before the court. Chargotra further informed the court that, earlier, this court had issued warrants against the accused but as the accused is under the judicial lock-up for the last seven years, the court should question the jail authorities for not producing the accused before the court.

It may be recalled here that Bharat Bhushan was arrested when he was a minor, only 15 years old and now at the age of 22, he was still in jail facing the same charges. He has nearly served the maximum term of seven years in this case, while he is yet to be found guilty.

Bhushan was allegedly accused of stealing Rs 112.10 from the post office in Akhnoor on October 10, 1993. Later, in December 1999, another charge was levelled against him when the headmistress of the Government Girls School, Akhnoor lodged a complaint of theft of a harmonium, badminton racket and track suit.

When contacted, Chargotra, a social activist and a senior leader, Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF), said while talking to The Indian Express, “I was shocked over what happened with the poor guy after reading the news. But since six holidays came in between we could not move the court. Now I have decided to follow the case to get the boy released and his rehabilitation thereafter.”