HC slams Haryana on law and order, asks Centre to provide forces

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 24

Coming down heavily on the Haryana government for its apparent inability to maintain law and order in the state ahead of the Dera verdict, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to forthwith provide forces, including paramilitary force.

Asserting that it could initiate action against the Director General of Police in case of the state’s failure to ensure security, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Surinder Singh Saron and Justice Avneesh Jhingan said it did not want a situation similar to the Jat reservation stir.

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The Bench said it also expected “full cooperation” from the Dera. Taking into consideration the sensitivity of the situation, the Bench posted the matter for post-lunch session.

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In its detailed order, the Bench directed the Centre through the Home Secretary to provide forces “keeping in view the gravity of the situation”.

The Bench asked the Centre to make its own assessment in the matter, while asking Haryana to afford its own estimation and requirement as might be necessary from time to time.

Taking a note of CBI standing counsel Sumeet Goel’s submission that its investigating officer, witnesses in the case, and public prosecutor in trial and the High Court were facing threats, the Bench directed Advocate General BR Mahajan to make arrangements to provide protection to them.

The Bench also asked Dera counsel SK Garg Narwana and Virat Amarnath to submit in the post-lunch session the steps being taken to defuse the situation. The Bench made the Centre through Home Secretary, the CBI and the Dera parties to a PIL in the matter before calling to the Court Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain.

The Bench asked Haryana Additional Advocate General Pawan Girdhar, Satya Pal Jain and advocate Dheeraj Jain to intervene in the matter. Punjab Additional Advocate General PPS Thethi was also requested to assist the court.

“The Centre will provide adequate security and force to the state government for maintaining peace and law and order in Panchkula and its surrounding areas forthwith,” the Bench added.

A lawyer on Wednesday had moved the High Court for directions to Haryana and its officials to make adequate security arrangements, especially in Panchkula district and surrounding areas, for the expected pronouncement of verdict in the criminal trial against Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh on August 25.

Petitioner-advocate Ravinder Singh Dhull had also prayed that the security arrangements might be monitored by the High Court. He claimed that more than 1.5 lakh people had already entered Panchkula district despite prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.