Mohali: High Court raps police for multiple inquiries

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, February 7

Taking cognisance of multiple inquiries conducted by different police officials over the past several months in Mohali, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for details from the SSP concerned. Among other things, he has been asked to specify the number of inquiries conducted on different complaints without FIR registration.

Key observations

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• Official respondents have violated the directions issued by the SC in Lalita Kumari’s case and the HC in Jaswinder Singh’s case
• Prima facie, Mohali SSP and DSP (Traffic) have committed contempt of court; they are directed to remain present in person on the next hearing

The direction by Justice NS Shekhawat came in a case where a third inquiry was being conducted on the basis of complaint over the same set of allegations in a plot-related dispute.

Taking up the matter, Justice Shekhawat also ruled that the official respondents had violated the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari’s case and the HC in Jaswinder Singh’s case. As such, the Bench was of the prima facie opinion that Mohali SSP and DSP (Traffic) had committed contempt of court. Consequently, the two officials were directed to remain present in person in the court on the next date of hearing.

“This court has reasons to believe, after dealing with several similar cases in Mohali district, that multiple inquiries are being conducted by different police officials for the last several months in the district, which is violative of the Article 21 of the Constitution for every accused in such complaint and is also in violation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari’s case,” Justice Shekhawat asserted.