HC issues bailable warrants against Tarn Taran SSP for defying orders

Coming down heavily on police apathy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered issuance of bailable warrants against the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Tarn Taran, for defying directions to file a fresh status report in two connected criminal revision petitions.

The Bench, presided over by Justice Namit Kumar, observed that multiple adjournments and explicit instructions were issued in the matter over a period of time. The SSP was also directed to file his own affidavit explaining the reasons for not filing the fresh status report in the matter.

But the officer neither submitted the requisite report nor appeared before the court as ordered.

Going into the background of the matter, the court recalled that the State counsel was granted time to file a fresh status report on July 23 this year. The case was then adjourned first to August 22 and then to September 9, after adjournments were again sought.

On September 9, Justice Namit Kumar recorded that two reminder emails had been sent on July 23 and August 25 to the Tarn Taran SSP, the SHO concerned and the Parvi Cell, but no response was received.

At that stage, the High Court granted one last opportunity, directing the SSP to file an affidavit explaining the failure and warning that he would have to appear personally in case of default.

However, neither the report was filed nor the SSP was present in court, when the matter came up for resumed hearing. Taking a stern view, the High Court ordered: “Let bailable warrants be issued against Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, for October 13”

The directions came during the hearing of two connected petitions against the State of Punjab.

The order is significant as the High Court has made it clear that non-compliance with judicial orders would not be tolerated, sending a strong message to the state police machinery.