Yet to look into about 96 per cent complaints it received in its five-month tenure regarding false complaints lodged by Punjab Police during the past decade, the Commission of Inquiry — headed by Justice (retired) Mehtab Singh Gill — has sought an extension till October 5, next year.
Citing the “enormous” task the Commission was facing, Justice Gill has asked the Punjab Government to grant one-year extension to deal with over 4,000 complaints lying pending.
Justice Gill has written to the Additional Chief Secretary seeking an year’s extension to the Commission, the term of which is ending on October 5 this year. The Commission was set up for six months, with an alternative to grant extension if needed.
Set up on April 5 to look into the “false” cases during the previous decade, ruled by the SAD-BJP combine government, the Commission of Inquiry has received a whopping 4,196 complaints, and dealt with only 178 cases in its first interim report, submitted about a week before.
The panel, headed by the former Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has not only recommended compensation in 130 cases out of 178 examined by the Commission so far, but also recommended cancellation of FIRs or withdrawal of cases in another 19 cases.
The Commission, in its report submitted on August 23, has also suggested the recovery of the relief amount from the investigating officers, besides recommending the dismissal of DSP Gurmeet Singh, among other things.
Taking note of the report, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed the state Home and Judicial Department to examine and implement the Commisison’s recommendations in a time-bound manner, while asking the Commission to monitor its implementation with the help of Home Secretary and Prosecution Director.
On the Chief Minister’s directions, the government has appointed a District Magistrate and a District Attorney for the implementation of Commission’s recommendations.
The Commission, in its letter, has pointed that it would not be able to complete the “enormous task” by October this year, and should be granted extension for another year, that is till October 5, 2018.
The letter, signed by Justice Gill and former District and Sessions judge BS Mehandiratta, contended that the number of cases before the Commission was enormous, and “in each and every case, evidence has to be recorded of both the parties and it is thereafter that after discussion a final decision has to be taken on complaints”.
To begin with, the Commission has looked in to the cases wherein the police inquiry has found the matter is false, where challan has not been filed and where the proceedings have finished in orders of acquittal. It is yet to look into the pending cases.
“We have received the request and we will place the same before the Cabinet for the final decision,” a state government functionary told The Pioneer.
The official added that probing false cases during the SAD-BJP regime was the major poll promise of the Congress party, and the Government would have no objection in granting the extension to the panel as thorough investigation into the complaints is required.