Justice Gill panel suggests relief in 70% of false cases

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

The Justice Mehtab Singh Gill Commission, set up for looking into false cases registered during the past decade of the SAD-BJP government, has recommended compensation in more than 70 per cent of cases examined so far. The panel has also recommended recovery of relief amount from erring Investigating Officers.

The dismissal of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and prosecution of complainants under Section 182 of the IPC in cases of false implication, too, has been suggested. The section deals with furnishing of false information with an intent to cause a public servant to use lawful power to injure another person.

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In its first interim report submitted to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today, the panel recommended compensation in 130 cases out of 178 examined so far. 

The panel, set up in April soon after the Congress government came to power, has received 4,200 complaints.

In cases where the accused were given a clean chit by the police, the commission has decided to go with the cops. Prosecution under Section 182 and compensation for the accused has essentially been ordered in cases culminating in acquittal by courts. “The logic behind launching prosecution is not only to discourage false complaints, but also to prevent police from misusing powers for pecuniary gains,” Justice Gill (retired) asserted. “If the complainant is honest, there is little scope for the police to be dishonest.”

The Justice Gill panel recommended the dismissal of DSP Gurmeet Singh after a court recorded in its verdict that the accused was implicated in a false case registered at his behest at the Khanna Sadar police station.

“So far, the panel has reviewed cases in which the police probe revealed innocence, the challan has not been filed or the proceedings have terminated in orders of acquittal,” Justice Gill said. “We have not gone into pending cases.”

Capt Amarinder has directed the Home and Judicial Departments to examine and implement the recommendations of the commission in a time-bound manner. The commission has been asked to monitor the implementation with the help of the Secretary (Home) and Director (Prosecution).

For follow-up action at the district level, the Home Department may appoint District Magistrates and District Attorneys as nodal officers, the CM ordered. The nodal officers would report the follow-up action through the Commission.

ED acted impartially: Commission

In 79 cases, the Justice Mehtab Singh Gill Commission found that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) “correctly” and “impartially” concluded the cases to be false. In another 19 cases, the commission recommended cancellation of FIRs or withdrawal of cases. The Home and Judicial Departments have been asked to request courts to cancel FIRs in a legal and proper manner.