HC relief for Sukhbir, Majithia

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

Just about two days before former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and MLA Bikram Singh Majithia were to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a case filed by a former judge, Justice Amit Rawal today granted them exemption from personal appearance.

The two, facing allegations of bringing to disrepute the sacrilege commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh, were directed to appear before the Bench on a criminal complaint.

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

Justice Ranjit Singh has submitted that the intention was to bring to 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 two, on the previous date of hearing, were granted bail on personal surety of Rs 1 lakh each after they appeared before Justice Rawal’s Bench in pursuance to the earlier order. Before parting with the order, Justice Rawal had added the court deemed it appropriate to adjourn the hearing to August 21, when the counsel representing the parties would address arguments on the issue.

Sacrilege panel 

Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, facing allegations of bringing to disrepute the sacrilege commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh, were directed to appear before the Bench on a criminal complaint.