HC takes suo motu cognisance of suicide in Amritsar

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has initiated suo motu proceedings in connection with a security breach involving a “miscreant” who seized a firearm of a personal security officer (PSO) of a sitting judge and ended his life by suicide.

The decision comes two days after a news report in these columns highlighted the incident that occurred near the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal expressed concern over the lapse in security. “There is definitely a lapse of security,” the Bench observed.

Before parting with the order, the court directed the state police chief to appear through videoconferencing on Wednesday. Punjab Additional Advocate-General Saurav Khurana was also directed to seek instructions in the matter.