Dhalia's kin back to jail

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">CHANDIGARH: The decks have been cleared for the nephew of OP Chautala''s principal secretary, who had been given remission in life term, to serve the remaining portion of his sentence following violation of terms of premature release.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The state government has conveyed to governor AR Kidwai the advocate general''s (AG) opinion in the regard.The AG has said that remission granted to the life convict could be cancelled and that he can serve the unexpired portion of his sentence in jail without serving a show-cause notice on him.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Convicted for life, Mahender Singh, nephew of the then financial commissioner (home and jails) Birbal Dass Dhalia (he later became principal secretary to CM Chautala), was given remission in May 2001 after just eight-and-a-half years in jail for killing one person. He was rearrested by the Ludhiana police in August 2003 for allegedly murdering Mahender Kumar there.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Subsequently, the Chautala-led council of ministers had recommended cancellation of the remission to the governor in May 2004. After deliberations, the governor Kidwai had asked the new Congress government to seek the AG''s opinion since Mahender Singh was reportedly confined in Central Jail, Ludhiana, under section 302/34 of the IPC since August 2003 for a different offence. After the governor gives his assent, Mahender is expected to be brought back to Haryana to serve the remaining portion of his life sentence.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Observing that his remission was apparently contrary to the government''s policy as well as SC guidelines, Kidwai had pointed out that the policy lays down that convicts who had been imprisoned for life for heinous crimes such as murder would be considered for premature release only after completion of 14 years of actual sentence.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">He had also asked the Haryana government to probe the conduct of all life convicts released prematurely and submit a report. Acting on the governor''s communication, the state government has sought a report from the state police chief and the director general prisons, Haryana.</span><br /></div> </div>