Chandigarh, September 13
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the decision of the SAD-BJP ruling alliance to withdraw criminal cases against its leaders and supporters registered during the five-year Congress rule till further orders. The orders are specifically in respect of Barnala district only.

The division bench, comprising Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Rajive Bhalla, after hearing a petition seeking directions to quash the decision to withdraw cases against former Independent MLA Malkiat Singh Keetu from the Barnala assembly constituency. The MLA had subsequently moved closer to the SAD. The petition was filed by Bhola Singh. Keetu is the president of powerful Punjab truck operators union.

The Punjab government had constituted a committee, headed by the state home secretary, to review the cases registered against persons in various districts during the Congress regime, for recommending the withdrawal of cases wherever required.

At the district level, the committee after making a list of persons involved in such cases, had entrusted the implementation of intended withdrawal of cases to the committees comprising the deputy commissioner, district police chief and the assistant district attorney, which made recommendations in this regard after reviewing the ongoing cases.

Keetu was one of the 13 persons in Barnala district (which was part of erstwhile Sangrur district) against whom a number of criminal cases, including those relating to misappropriation of truck union funds, were pending. The district-level committee had recommended withdrawal of these cases sometime in July and requests were file with the courts concerned.

During the arguments, it was pointed out by the counsel for the petitioner that the recommendation of the committee to withdraw cases against Keetu was without jurisdiction and legal backing. None other than the public prosecutor could withdraw ongoing cases.