...takes exception to ex-Registrar’s reply

CHANDIGARH: More than a year after the scrapping of “HCS (Judicial Branch) Preliminary Examination 2017” following the allegations of paper leakage, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today took exception to a reply submitted by former Registrar (Recruitment) Balwinder Kumar Sharma.

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 11

More than a year after the scrapping of “HCS (Judicial Branch) Preliminary Examination 2017” following the allegations of paper leakage, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today took exception to a reply submitted by former Registrar (Recruitment) Balwinder Kumar Sharma.

The reply came in response to the UT’s plea against lower court’s order for providing him with call details of the SIT members probing the paper leak case.

The reply did not go down well with the Full Bench of the High Court, which was hearing the matter. The document was then withdrawn by Sharma’s counsel.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, UT additional public prosecutor Gautam Dutt told the Bench that Sharma had submitted a reply to the Chandigarh Administration’s plea against the call detail order. Dutt added that Sharma’s reply was scandalous and contemptuous; and the UT needed to file a counter reply.

The Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari, Justice Rajan Gupta, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Justice Deepak Sibal and Justice Arun Palli then asked for the copes of the reply before going through the contents. The Bench then asked Sharma’s counsel Ramesh Kumar Bamal to just sit down and read what was written in the reply.

The Bench questioned him on how could he quote names, whether he realised what had been written and also on not filing an affidavit with the reply. Faced with the situation, the counsel withdrew the reply, while adding that he would file it again with an affidavit if it was suitable to do so.

Dutt, during the course of hearing, also told the Bench that report by the CFSL on mobile phones, laptops and other issues related to the matter was awaited. He added that no less than five reminders were sent to them.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the Bench made it clear that the CFSL Director would have to be summoned in case of further delay. The assertion came after the Bench took note of Dutt’s assurance, on instructions, on early submission of the report.

Bail for accused

The Bench also granted bail to another accused Kuldeep.