HC raps state over casual filing of status reports, summons Moga SSP
In a major embarrassment for the State of Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today rapped it for casual approach in filing status reports before the Bench. The admonition came as the HC summoned Moga Senior Superintendent of Police after taking note of lapses in filing an incomplete status report in a careless manner.
The Bench was hearing a regular bail petition filed in October last year in a case alleging murder and other offences under various provisions of the IPC and the Arms Act at the Dharamkot police station in Moga.
As the matter came up for resumed hearing before the Bench of Justice Deepak Sibal, the petitioner-accused through his counsel sought the court’s permission to withdraw the petition.
Taking a note of his submissions, Justice Sibal accepted the request before ordering the dismissing of the plea as withdrawn. The court, at the same time, took note of the omission of key details in the latest status report placed before the Bench on the state’s behalf.
Justice Sibal said the status report filed by the state neither mentioned the date of the petitioner’s arrest/surrender, nor did it disclose the fact that he was declared a proclaimed offender in the matter.
Expressing displeasure, the court said this was not the first instance of such negligence. “This is not the first time that the status reports have been filed in this court in a casual manner,” Justice Sibal asserted.
Taking a firm stance to ensure accountability for the state’s continued disregard for proper documentation in legal proceedings, Justice Sibal directed the SSP to appear before the court on the next date of hearing “to explain the casual approach in filing of the status report before this court”.
The direction is significant as the Bench has made clear its intent to address the recurring nature of such lapses, reflecting a broader concern over the state’s handling of critical legal documents. The case will now come up for further hearing in October first week.
