Photograph of a very Rare Document relating to Bhagat Singh’s Trial and Appeal (1929 Assembly Case)

 

(Courtesy: National Archives of India and sent to me by my beloved Uncle, Shri Anil Verma)

The abovementioned photograph of the Document/Letter pertains to the Appeal preferred by Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt against their conviction in the 1929 Assembly Case. The said Letter/Document was written by the Deputy Registrar, High Court of Judicature at Lahore (Now Pakistan) to the Sessions Judge, Delhi, on 14.01.1930 which was received on 16.01.1930. It was written with reference to transmission of the copies of the Judgment of the High Court and the return of the records of the Lower Court.

 

The said Letter/Document tells us a lot of intricate details about the Judicial Process that Bhagat Singh went through. All of us know the 1929 Assembly Incident and the purpose behind it. Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt not only smoke bombed but also threw Political Handouts at the Delhi Central Legislative Assembly. Their aim behind the said bombing was to protest against the passage of two draconian draft laws/bills, namely, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill. They immediately surrendered to the Police and were arrested.

 

The Trial against them commenced and they were subsequently convicted and sentenced to transportation for life by the Sessions Judge, Delhi, Mr. Middleton, on 12.06.1929. Later on, they had preferred an Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Lahore. It would be interesting to know that the High Court of Judicature at Lahore, which was a Letters Patent Court, exercised jurisdiction over the then provinces of the Punjab and Delhi.

 

By perusal of the captioned Letter/Document, following details regarding the Appeal preferred by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt could be gathered: -

1. Appeal Number – Case No. 748 of 1929.

2. Charges – Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1903.

 

It is again interesting to note that the above-stated Appeal was dismissed on 13.01.1930 and the Letter/Document provided hereinabove is dated as 14.01.1930, that is, exactly a day after the dismissal of the Appeal. It is most likely in relation to a routine process of the Court to return the records to the Lower Court after an Appeal has been decided.

 

What is also pertinent to note are the closing notes of the said Letter/Document. It ended with “I have the honour to be Sir, Your most Obedient Servant, Deputy Registrar.” Such language clearly signifies the mentality of servitude and sycophancy that was ingrained in the Britishers that wrongly ruled the India. It was most unjust that foreigners ruled India for so long and martyrs like Bhagat Singh had to sacrifice their lives for the independence of our beloved country, India.

 

The rare photograph of the said Letter/Document was sent to me by my beloved Uncle, Shri Anil Verma, who is himself a Judge (presently posted as Principal Registrar, Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Seat at Indore) and a well-known authority on Indian Freedom Fighters. My special thanks to him as well as the National Archives of India without whose efforts, it would not have been possible to preserve such precious and rare documents.