Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Haryana Government to take a clear stand on the Parkash Singh Panel’s report on the administrative functioning of the Haryana Government during the Jat reservation stir in February this year, while the Government submitted the second volume of Parkash Singh Committee’s report on intelligence and other related issues.
Once again, Haryana Government had to face a tough time during the hearing of the suo-motu case on the Jat reservation stir, when the Division Bench of Justice S S Saron and Justice Shekhar Dhawan condemned the attitude of the government asserting that the State government not only failed to act during the agitation, but its post-agitation conduct was also equally deplorable. The Government has again failed to build an image of effective governance, the Court observed.
Haryana Government invited the wrath of the court, when it was told that the State had not procured the reports submitted by the magistrates across the state on police investigations into FIRs registered after the Jat reservation stir.
The matter was adjourned on the last date of hearing as Additional Solicitor-General of India Tushar Mehta on State’s behalf had sought time to respond to the reports. Mehta’s absence from the court on Saturday invited the Court’s condemnation.
Admonishing the Advocate General office for its lackluster attitude, the Bench asserted that the magistrates had forgone their vacations to prepare the reports on police investigations after summoning the investigating officer. But the Advocate-General’s office had not even cared to have a look at the reports after procuring the copies from High Court registry.
Pointing at the lackadaisical efforts of the Government to investigate the matter properly, the amicus curiae Anupam Gupta earlier told the Bench that the reports suggest complete inaction on the part of the police. He told the court that except 22 cases, no concrete step had been taken in 1199 FIRs registered after the turmoil.
Rubbishing Haryana Government for not showing progress in the investigation, the Bench questioned the government’s motive of shielding the accused. The Bench asserted that the Advocate-General’s office and the government are in a slumber. The Bench took no exception for terming the authorities “Heartless” asserting that the state had failed to understand the gravity of situation and feel the pain and anguish of the victims.
Extending a warning to the state government, the Bench asked the State, whether it wanted the investigation to be shifted to CBI. The Bench further observed that if the investigation went to CBI than the Court feared for the Haryana Police.
During the arguments, Amicus Curiae Anupam Gupta demanded initiation of action against the Inspector-General of Police, who had summoned police force for his protection. Gupta also demanded action against those cops, who had run-away from the spot where stones were being pelt.
Gupta also raised questions on the intent of police, saying that the failure to arrest the accused even after their identification shows willful omission on the part of police and lack of commitment.