Jagtar Singh Hawara, serving a life sentence for the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, is at the centre of a fresh parole request. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday, seeking 10 days parole for Hawara on humanitarian grounds.
Mann’s letter cited the deteriorating health of Hawara’s elderly mother. The request comes months after the case moved through the Punjab and Haryana High Court over questions of who has the authority to decide it.
Who is Jagtar Singh Hawara and What is he convicted for?
Jagtar Singh Hawara is a convict in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Singh and 16 others were killed in a blast outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995.
A special CBI court awarded Hawara the death penalty in 2007. The Punjab and Haryana High Court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment in October 2010. Appeals filed by both Hawara and the state remain pending before the Supreme Court.
Hawara escaped from Burail jail in a jailbreak on January 22, 2004, and was rearrested about a year later. He is currently lodged in Central Jail No. 15, Mandoli, in New Delhi.
What did CM Mann say in His letter to the Governor?
In the letter, Bhagwant Mann said, “Owing to her old age, the mother of Jagtar Singh Hawara is facing age related health issues. This has resulted in deterioration of her health, which is a major cause of concern for everyone.”
Mann also referred to ongoing legal proceedings. He said, “Jagtar Singh Hawara has also filed CRWP No. 3868/2026 before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, seeking directions for his release on parole.” He added that “the High Court has also directed that his parole application be considered.”
The Chief Minister requested the Governor to grant the 10 day parole “at the earliest on humanitarian grounds,” calling it necessary given his mother’s condition.
Why has the Jagtar Singh Hawara parole case taken so long?
The Jagtar Singh Hawara parole case has moved slowly due to a dispute over jurisdiction. Mandoli Jail authorities in Delhi had forwarded his parole application to the Punjab government, believing it was the competent authority.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court clarified in July 2026 that the Superintendent of Central Jail No. 15, Mandoli, is responsible for deciding the application, not the Chandigarh Administration. The court ordered the request be redirected to the Home Secretary of the Union Territory of Chandigarh for comments within a set timeline.
Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 state that parole shall not ordinarily be granted to convicts involved in cases of sedition, terrorist activities, or an escape bid. However, the court left the question of Hawara’s eligibility for the jail authorities to examine.
How long has Jagtar Singh Hawara been without parole?
Hawara has remained in custody since his 1995 arrest, apart from the period he was absconding after the 2004 jailbreak. His counsel has stated in earlier court proceedings that he has not been granted parole or temporary release during his years in jail.
The case has drawn attention from Sikh religious and political organisations in recent months. No official confirmation on the Governor's response has been issued so far.