Give Tribunal facilities in 15 days: HC to Punjab

As the matter came up for resumed hearing today,the High Court questioned the Punjab law officer,who seemed to have little clue about the case. The case was called again after the lunch break. The law officer told the Bench that the State has decided to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the apex court against the High Court order dated May 29.

The division bench,headed by the acting Chief Justice,sought an explanation for the delay caused in implementation of the order in absence of any stay by the Supreme Court. The Bench remarked that the State was not inclined to go ahead with the probe as it involved some high-ups. The Court also questioned the Punjab law officer as to whether the State wanted any high-ups to be punished.

The Bench has made it clear that if the infrastructure is not provided to the Tribunal in 15 days,the Home affairs and justice secretary will have to remain present on the next date of hearing.

On May 29 the High Court had handed over the probe to a Judicial Tribunal headed by the former Supreme Court Judge,Justice Kuldip Singh. The tribunal was asked to look into land grab cases not just in Nayagaon and other villages on Chandigarh’s periphery but in the whole of Punjab.