HC notice to Sukhbir, Majithia on Justice Ranjit Singh''s plea

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Punjab’s former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and MLA Bikram Singh Majithia on a petition filed by Justice Ranjit Singh alleging attempts by the two to bring to disrepute a commission headed by him for probing the cases of sacrilege in the state.

Justice Amit Rawal of the High Court issued the notice to the two under Section 10A of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The provision deals with penalty for acts calculated to bring the commission or any of its members into disrepute.

Justice Ranjit Singh’s plea for preserving evidence in form of recordings of press conference and other things will also be considered on the next date of hearing on March 25.

Justice Ranjit Singh’s counsel APS Deol and HS Deol had told Justice Rawal’s Bench that a notice was sent to to the channels for recordings of the events. But reply was not received. 

If the first-of-its-kind plea is allowed, the respondents may find themselves facing proceedings for simple imprisonment for a term extending up to six months, or fine, or both. Section 10-A, among other things, say: “If any person, by words either spoken or intended to be read, makes or publishes any statement or does any other act, which is calculated to bring the Commission or any member thereof into disrepute, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.”

The Section also makes it clear that the High Court may take cognizance of such offence, without the case being committed to it, upon a complaint in writing, made by a member of a Commission or its officer authorised on this behalf.

Justice Ranjit Singh had filed the criminal complaint against the two for deliberately and willfully making “false, derogatory and defamatory” statements on public platforms against him.

Justice Ranjit Singh had asserted that the intention was to bring into disrepute him and the Commission of Inquiry headed by him for looking into the cases of sacrilege in Punjab during the previous SAD-BJP regime.

The act of dubbing the commission report as worth Rs 5 during a demonstration outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha allegedly by Sukhbir, Majithia and other SAD members in August, last year, has been quoted as an “instance of wilful disrepute”.

Justice Ranjit Singh had also referred to other instances where Sukhbir in press conferences and otherwise made statements against the commission and its head, which allegedly brought disrepute.

Justice Ranjit Singh had asserted that he, as the chairman of the commission executed his duties and functions in a completely non-partisan manner and with utmost honesty, integrity and great sense of responsibility.