JBT scam: Delhi HC upholds 10-year jail term for Chautala

The Delhi High Court on Thursday upheld the judgment of a lower court in the awarding of a 10-year jail term to former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala in connection with a teacher recruitment scam.

The court observed that Chautala can't be considered for mercy due to his age because he was the chief minister of the state, and added that he should have set an example for the youth and others, but chose not to.

"Court has upheld 10-year sentence for O P Chaulata and Ajay Chautala and for the rest it has come down to two years. After seeing this order we have decided to appeal in the Supreme Court," said advocate D K Sharma.

In June 2008, Chautala and 53 others were charged in connection with the appointment of 3,216 junior basic teachers in Haryana during the years 1999-2000.

In January 2013, a New Delhi court sentenced Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala to ten years imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Chautala was found guilty of illegally recruiting over 3000 unqualified teachers. A CBI investigation was ordered by the Supreme Court during NDA Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

On July 11, 2014, the Delhi High Court had reserved its verdict in regards to an appeal by Chautala.