Taking the Haryana Police to task against the hooligans, who attempted to disrupt the course of life in the State, Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday asked the authorities to put before the court the progress made in the FIRs registered against the miscreants after the Jat reservation stir.
Taking serious view on the issue of security of judicial officers, the Division Bench of Justice S S Saron and Justice Gurmit Ram has sought reports on the security arrangements, made by the Government, for the judicial officers. The Bench has asked Session judges of 7 districts to file reports on the security arrangements for the judicial officers.
Expressing displeasure on the constant denial by the Haryana Government on the alleged incidents of molestation in Murthal during the Jat stir, the High Court asserted "it was unfortunate that the Government had no responsibility towards the public and judicial officers. You were only bothered about saving your own skin,"
The Bench took strong objection on the assertion of Advocate-General, Haryana Baldev Raj Mahajan that the accused arrested by the police in different cases were specifically asked about the alleged rape and there was an explicit denial by them.
Admonishing the State for constant efforts to deny the incidents of molestation, the Bench putting forward posers to the State, asked "What is the point in asking the accused whether they committed rapeIJ Would any accused come forward and say he committed the crimeIJ This is unheard of,"
Asking the State to bring the statements of the accused before the court, the Bench went through the statements and observed that there was no mention of denial. The court observed that "The High Court does not go by the whims and fancies of the police officers…. The police can play tricks in offices, not in the High Court. You say the arrested were asked about the rape. Where and when were they askedIJ The High Court goes by record."
Fixing April 11 as the next date of hearing, the High Court has asked the Government to come with complete progress report made on the FIRs registered against the miscreants following the Jat agitation.