In a progressive move and setting an example for many, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term, has passed his higher secondary examination with first division at the age of 82.
The veteran leader is now planning to pursue an undergraduate course. He has been sentenced in the teachers’ recruitment scam case.
Chautala appeared for Class XII exam conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). “The last exam was held on April 23. He was out on parole during that time, but since the examination center was inside the jail premises, he went back to jail and sat for the exam,” said Chautala’s younger son, Abhay Singh Chautala.
Abhay said Chautala secured “A grade” (first division) which were declared recently. “He decided to utilize his jail term more meaningfully. Now, he goes to the jail library daily, where he reads newspapers and books. He asks the jail staff to arrange for his favorite books. He reads books about great politicians across the world. Sometimes, he asks us to send course books also.”
Chautala was charged with corruption in the recruitment of 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000. He and 54 others were convicted by a trial court in 2013. The conviction was upheld by the SC in 2015.
