HC asks UT, Punjab to ensure law & order

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 11

Just about four days before a “large number of people” from different parts of Punjab were expected to assemble in Mohali district before proceeding to Chandigarh for staging a dharna against abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A of the Constitution, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the police of the UT and Punjab to work in coordination for maintaining peace and harmony throughout the state of Punjab and Chandigarh.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli asked the Punjab DGP and the Mohali SSP to extend all possible help in taking appropriate steps to maintain law and order. The two officers were asked to do so in consultation with the UT DGP.

“The respondent-authorities shall also take all such requisite adequate steps to ensure that no damage is caused to any public property or the life and liberty of any of the citizens is put in jeopardy,” the Bench added.

Fixing the case for September 13, the Bench also called for a status report by the DGPs of Punjab and Chandigarh. The directions came on a petition filed by Rajpreet Singh against the state of Punjab and other respondents. The Bench, among other things, was told that more than 20,000 people were expected to assemble before moving in a procession from Mohali to Chandigarh. The petitioner’s counsel, Amit Kumar, added that it may create law and order problem and loss to the life and liberty of the public at large.

At the onset, Punjab Assistant Advocate-General Lavanaya Paul accepted a notice on behalf of the respondents, the State and others. The notice was also accepted by UT Senior Standing Counsel Pankaj Jain and Senior Standing Counsel for Union of India Dheeraj Jain.

Fixes case for September 13

Fixing the case for September 13, the Bench also called for a status report by the DGPs of Punjab and Chandigarh. The directions came on a petition filed by Rajpreet Singh against the state of Punjab and other respondents. The Bench, among other things, was told that more than 20,000 people were expected to assemble before moving in a procession from Mohali to Chandigarh.