India: Information on the arrest of Mr Ajit Singh Bains, a retired judge of Punjab, at the beginning of April 1992; including when he was released, the charges against him, and any protest marches organized against his arrest, particularly in Nakodan
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IND21116.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: Information on the arrest of Mr Ajit Singh Bains, a retired judge of Punjab, at the beginning of April 1992; including when he was released, the charges against him, and any protest marches organized against his arrest, particularly in Nakodan, 1 June 1995, IND21116.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acdb58.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the attached documents, Justice Ajit Singh Bains was arrested on 3 April 1992 by Chandigarh and Punjab police and charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for a speech he allegedly made at a Sikh religious event on 18 March 1992 in Anandpur Sahib (AI 15 Apr. 1992; ibid. 7 Apr. 1992; see also CIJL 1992, 75). Amnesty International reported that he was released on bail on 18 August 1992 (AI 2 Sept. 1992). For more information, please refer to the attachments.
Information on whether there were any protest marches organized against his arrest could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 2 September 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/45/92). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 15 April 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/29/92). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 7 April 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/26/92). London: Amnesty International.
Attacks on Justice: The Harassment and Persecution of Judges and Lawyers. 1992. Edited by Mona A. Rishmaw. Geneva: Center for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL).
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 8 April 1992. "Prominent Sikh Human Rights Activist Arrested." (NEXIS)
Amnesty International (AI). 2 September 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/45/92). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 15 April 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/29/92). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 7 April 1992. Urgent Action: India: Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist and Retired Judge. (AI Index: ASA 20/26/92). London: Amnesty International.
Attacks on Justice: The Harassment and Persecution of Judges and Lawyers. 1992. Edited by Mona A. Rishmaw. Geneva: Center for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL), pp. 75-76.
The Independent [London]. 24 June 1992. P.M. Varadarajan. "Letter: Jailed for Speaking Out in India." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 18 April 1992. BC Cycle. "Rights Group Slams India Over Punjab Violence." (NEXIS)
Other Sources Consulted
Amnesty International country file. April 1992-present.
Amnesty International Country Reports. 1992-1994.
Asian Survey [Berkeley]. 1992-present.
DIRB country file. April 1992-present.
Indexed Media Review (IMR). April-15 June 1992, 5 July 1994-present.
On-line searches.
