Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday surrendered before the court and was sent to Patiala Central Jail, a day after the Supreme Court sentenced him to one year’s rigorous imprisonment in the 1988 road rage death case.
Now speculations are rife about Sidhu’s prison sentence and how it will be, as well as any possible change in its length. According to reports, Sidhu’s term can be shortened to less than 8 months, “if he behaves well and the jail authorities and the Punjab government grant him extraordinary relaxation.”
What is a discount?
In simple words, exemption is reduction in sentence.
Sidhu, who was sentenced to one year in jail by the Supreme Court, will get 48 days automatic reduction in his sentence in return for working in the jail factory. A prison official told the Tribune, “A convict gets four days’ remission every month, including the first three months of training, during which he is not paid.”
The jail superintendent has the power to reduce the sentence of a convict by another 30 days. Almost all criminals get it, except those who indulge in serious indiscipline.
How can Sidhu get less punishment?
The Director General of Police (Prisons) or Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) has the authority to grant a third exemption of 60 days, although this is done only in exceptional circumstances and with political permission.
Now some reports are speculating that because of his ‘good relations’ with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Sidhu has a high chance of benefitting from this exemption. The CM recently met Sidhu, who is the only leader of the opposition party to have the privilege of CM.
Sidhu and Mann connect
Sidhu, who resigned as Punjab Congress chief following orders from party president Sonia Gandhi, was in the eye of the party high command for some time due to the Congress’s dismal performance in the recently held assembly elections in five states.
He had a meeting with Mann two weeks ago and boasted about the “receptivity” of the new AAP chief minister to Punjab.
Sidhu claimed after the meeting (held to discuss economic issues) that the fifty minutes spent with Mann were “the most constructive” and the chief minister was “quite receptive”.
“Most constructive 50 mins spent…repeated the pro-Punjab agenda that I have stood for over the years…talked about means to generate income, this is the only solution to end the problem of Punjab… CM @ Bhagwant Mann was very receptive…assured that he would fulfill the aspirations of the people…,” Sidhu had said in a tweet at the time.
What will Sidhu’s life look like in jail?
As per the Punjab Jail Manual, while in jail, Sidhu will undergo training without pay for three months. After that, he will be classified as unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled. Prisoners earn Rs 30 to 90 a day.
The prisoners work eight hours a day and their fee is borne by the government. As per the manual, 25 per cent of the prisoner’s income is in the form of prison money while the rest is deposited in a savings account.
Here’s what a day in Sidhu’s life might look like in jail:
- The day in the jail starts at 5.30 am
- Biscuit or black gram are served with tea at 7 a.m.
- A brunch of six chapatis, dal or vegetables will be served at 8.30 am, after which the prisoners will go to work.
- Prisoners finish their work, allotted by category, at 5.30 pm
- Prisoners eat dinner at 6 pm, six chapatis, pulses or vegetables
- All prisoners are locked in their barracks till 7 pm
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