JBT scam: HC notice to CBI on Ajay Chautala's plea

The Delhi High Court today sought response of the CBI on the plea of former Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala's son, Ajay Chautala, against his conviction and 10 year sentence for illegally recruiting 3206 junior teachers in 2000.
51-year-old Ajay Chautala, who is in Tihar Jail since his sentencing, has also moved an application seeking interim bail.
Issuing notice to the CBI, Justice Mukta Gupta fixed April 4 to hear the plea of Ajay, a sitting Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA.
Ajay, his father O P Chautala and 53 others, including two IAS officers -- Sanjiv Kumar and Vidhya Dhar -- were convicted on January 16 by the trial court for illegally recruiting 3,206 junior basic trained (JBT) teachers in Haryana in 2000.

Earlier on February 14, INLD chief O P Chautala moved the high court challenging his conviction and sentencing in the JBT scam case. He has also sought interim bail on health grounds.
The court, on his plea, has sought his medical records from the jail authorities.

Kumar, who exposed the scam but was later found to be involved in it after a CBI probe, has also moved the high court against the trial court's order by which he has also been convicted and sentenced to 10 years jail term.
He was the Director of Primary Education in 2000.
The trial court on January 22 had awarded varying jail terms to all the 55 persons convicted in the case.

Apart from the Chautalas and Kumar, Chautala's former Officer on Special Duty Vidya Dhar and Sher Singh Badshami, who used to be political advisor of the former CM, have been given 10 years jail term.
Five others, including a woman, have also been awarded 10 years jail term by the trial court.
Of the remaining 45 convicts, one has been handed five years and the rest 44 were given four years imprisonment.