Submit action-taken report on leak of ‘tainted Patwaris’ list by July 16: HC

Acting on a petition filed in public interest, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today set July 16 as the deadline for placing before the Bench the details of action taken against the “ministerial staff” responsible for leaked list of tainted Patwaris.

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“The state counsel prays for and is granted time to bring on record the relevant facts as regards the action taken against the ministerial staff who was responsible for leaking the list of tainted Patwaris in the public domain,” the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry asserted, while fixing the case for further hearing on July 16.

The state was represented in the matter by senior Additional Advocate-General Lokesh Sinhal and Additional Advocate-General Deepak Balyan.

The case pertains to the leakage of the “most-confidential document” in public domain. The Bench, on a previous date of hearing, had asked the petitioner-advocate to inform the court about his locus standi in the case.

The petitioner in this case had moved the high court for redressing the irreparable harm caused to the fundamental rights of 370 Patwaris and 170 private individuals who have been labelled 'corrupt' in the list titled 'regarding corrupt Patwaris in Revenue Department'.

The petitioner’s stand in the matter was that the publication of the list - unsubstantiated, premature and violative of principles of natural justice - had tarnished the reputation and dignity of those named, causing mental agony to their families.

"The list, leaked into public domain, was widely published and disseminated by various media outlets without verification of the allegations. The labelling of individuals as 'corrupt' without any adjudication, inquiry and unconstitutional act violated their fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution," the petition has submitted.

Directions were also sought for immediate withdrawal of the defamatory list from public domain and to prevent its further publication and dissemination of its contents. Directions were further sought for ordering an independent inquiry to identify and hold accountable the individuals responsible for the leak.