The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday pulled up the Haryana Government over the security arrangements provided in the State in the wake of the verdict on the 15-year-old rape case against the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on August 25.
The High Court told the State Government that it doesn’t want a situation like that of the Jat agitation to take place in Haryana and has asked the Centre to deploy additional forces, and take strong steps.
As thousands of followers of dera chief descended on Panchkula, the HC asked the Centre and Haryana Government to maintain law and order situation in the State.
The High Court, acting tough against Haryana for its apparent “failure” to maintain law and order, took the call ahead of the special Panchkula CBI court’s verdict on Friday.
HC also pulled up the Haryana Government for not applying the right clauses of Section 144. “Why was assembly not prohibited,” said the court, adding “proper order under Section 144 could have debarred the assembly of people”.
The court’s observation came when the petitioner’s counsel Ravinder Singh Dhull said more than 1.5 lakhd dera followers have already reached Panchkula city despite prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.
Without mincing words, the court said it could initiate action against the Director General of Police in case the State failed to ensure security.
Directing the Centre through the Home Secretary to provide forces, the HC Bench asked it to make its own assessment of the situation.
The Bench also questioned the Police Commissioner of Panchkula on plans to stop sect followers from reaching Panchkula.
“The entire effort is directed at making the court premises secure. The problems haunting the common men are ignored,” the court observed.
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain apprised the High Court about the deployment of paramilitary forces. The High Court listed the matter for next hearing on Friday.