Haryana Government on Friday appointed a 2-member judicial commission headed by Justice SN Jha (retd), former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court and Rajasthan High Court, to inquire into the sequence of events leading to violence in the districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal and Bhiwani during Jat quota stir in February.
The other member of the Commission is former IPS officer NC Padhi, who was Secretary Security, Government of India.
The Commission will submit its report to the State Government as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first sitting. The headquarters of the Commission shall be at Chandigarh.
Earlier on February 24, the State Government had constituted a one-man commission headed by retired IPS Prakash Singh to probe into the alleged failure and inaction of civil and police officials during the Jat agitation. The Commission is likely to submit its report during this month.
A spokesperson of the State Government on Friday said that the judicial commission under the Commissions of Inquiry, Act, 1952 headed by Justice (Retd) SN Jha would inquire into all facts and circumstances relating to the occurrence of violence leading to loss of lives, damage to properties, both private and public including roads, canals, railway stations, police stations and illegal felling of trees and violation of human rights from February 18 to 23 during Jat agitation in seven districts.
The Commission would also inquire into existence of a deep rooted conspiracy, if any, to damage the social fabric of the society and any such matter as may be found relevant in the course of the inquiry, said the spokesman.
The CM Manohar lal had announced in the State Assembly during the recent budget session that a judicial inquiry would be ordered to inquire into the recent incidents of arson and disturbances during the Jat agitation for reservation.
The main opposition INlD and Congress had been demanding the constitution of judicial commission to probe into the conspiracy, if any, behind the violence during the Jat stir.
The Commission shall also inquire into the complaints or allegations that may be made before the Commission by any individual or association in such form, as may be specified by the Commission. It shall devise and specify its own procedure for conduct of the inquiry subject to provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952, said the spokesman.
Notably, Haryana had witnessed large scale violence for almost ten days in February with rampaging mobs looting and setting shops on fire, burning government and private buildings and vehicles and clashing with security forces during the Jat quota stir.
A total of 30 persons had died, 320 persons sustained injuries including 72 personnel belonging to police and other security forces during the agitation. Also, Haryana had suffered losses of Rs 650 crore on account of burning and destroying of public and private property due to the agitation. This excludes the losses suffered by Railways during the agitation.
More than 2000 criminal cases have been registered in various police stations of the state in connection with the reservation agitation.