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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Lawrence Bishnoi interview: HC asks SIT to probe role of seniors
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued a set of directions aimed at tackling rising crime and addressing infrastructure gaps in Punjab's jails. Hearing a public interest litigation, the bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda called for better use of video conferencing for high-risk prisoners and ordered an ongoing investigation to examine the alleged role of senior officers in a controversial interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi that appeared to glorify crime. The court noted that the Prison Inmate Calling System had been significantly upgraded, with the number of calling facilities increasing from 357 to 800. 'Inmates are allowed 10-minute calls. This facility is adequate but under-utilised in several jails,' the court observed. However, it raised concern over the poor use of video conferencing systems, particularly for the production of high-risk inmates before trial courts. Citing a submission by Punjab's Principal Secretary (Jails), Bhawna Garg, the court noted that while 159 video conferencing setups are available across jails, they are not being used adequately. The bench directed trial courts across Punjab to make maximum use of this facility, observing that it not only reduces the need for police deployment but also cuts down significantly on public expenditure. The court also flagged a rise in cases of extortion, threats, ransom demands, and targeted killings, especially after an interview that 'glorified crime and had garnered millions of views.' On August 7, 2024, the court had directed the Punjab DGP to submit data on such crimes between March and December 2023. The affidavit filed then showed an uptick in criminal activity following the broadcast. Now noting a 'further increase in crime in the recent past,' the court directed the DGP to file a fresh affidavit covering the period from January 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025, along with details of preventive steps taken. The affidavit is also to mention compliance with directions issued earlier. The bench also reviewed the ongoing probe being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by retired IPS officer Prabodh Kumar. It inducted Dhruv Dahiya, IPS, AIG (Counter Intelligence), as a new member of the SIT and reiterated that the team must examine the role of senior officers in enabling the controversial interview of Lawrence Bishnoi. 'It is difficult to believe that the interview could have taken place without the involvement of senior officers, especially when the location of the interview was established only after this Court's intervention,' the bench remarked. The SIT has been directed to submit a status report within one month. Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi raised concerns over poor infrastructure for the SIT, pointing out that weak Wi-Fi at the SIT head's office was disrupting video proceedings. The Advocate General for Punjab assured the court that necessary infrastructure would be provided immediately. The court was also informed that recruitment for 500 posts of Assistant Superintendents and Wardens has been initiated through the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, while recruitment for Deputy Superintendent (Jail) is underway via the Punjab Public Service Commission. Additional personnel are also being engaged from PESCO and Punjab Police (868 to 189 officers) and CRPF (180 to 280 personnel), with the process expected to be completed by next month. The matter is listed for further hearing on August 18, with the State directed to file an updated status report by then.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Interpret rules beneficially to protect families of staff posted at ‘non-family' stations: HC
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that families of govt staff transferred to "non-family stations" with harsh conditions or security concerns should be allowed to retain their official accommodation. The court emphasised a "beneficial interpretation" of rules to prioritise the welfare and stability of employees' families. The ruling came from a division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda, who dismissed a petition by the Centre. The Union govt had challenged a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order that quashed a penal rent imposed on a joint director of the Military Engineering Service (MES) from July 16, 2020, to Dec 2, 2020. The case involved an MES officer initially posted in Chandigarh, who was allotted a Type-V house in Sector 38-A in May 2012. Upon transfer to the Leh zone in Oct 2015, a non-family station, he was permitted to retain his Chandigarh accommodation. He was subsequently transferred to another non-family station, Udhampur zone, in June 2018, and was again granted permission to retain the Chandigarh accommodation until June 18, 2020. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'I couldn't hear my grandchildren anymore...' – Find out how she did it. Hearing Magazine Undo Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an extension was granted to all allottees until July 15, 2020. When the officer failed to vacate, he was issued a show-cause notice for unauthorised occupation and directed to deposit penal rent. He eventually vacated the accommodation on Dec 2, 2020, after depositing Rs 4,39,764 as penal rent. The CAT later quashed the penal rent order, prompting the central govt to appeal to the high court. The high court, however, upheld the CAT's decision, observing that the transfers to Leh and Udhampur should be considered independent, allowing the officer to retain accommodation for three years from the June 18, 2018, transfer, or until June 30, 2021, whichever was earlier. In its detailed order released Monday, the bench stated that the officer could not be deemed an unauthorised occupant, thus invalidating the penal rent. The court further directed the government to refund the penal rent to the officer's family, as he passed away during the litigation, with interest, within one month. The high court also reiterated a fundamental legal principle: when statutory provisions are clear, they must be given their natural meaning. The court emphasised that it is not the role of the judiciary to delve into legislative intent or alter the wording of the law, as that power rests solely with the legislature. MSID:: 122162476 413 |
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
High court helps orphaned Mohali siblings save their home
In a heart-warming turn of events, two young siblings from Mohali, facing the loss of their home after the death of both parents, have secured it again, thanks to the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana high court. The 19-year-old boy, currently pursuing a BA, and his 16-year-old sister, a Class 10 student, had approached the court in May, desperate to stop the bank from taking possession of their flat — the only roof over their heads — over a loan default. Their father had taken a ₹20.31-lakh loan to purchase a flat for their family in a Mohali society. However, he had insured the loan only until 2022 and not for the entire repayment period. Suffering from a prolonged illness, their father passed away in March 2023 at PGIMER, Chandigarh, after a sizeable spending on his treatment. Their mother also died in September 2024, leaving the siblings orphaned and facing the unpaid home loan debt. Due to non-payment of instalments since their father's illness in 2022, the outstanding loan amount had shot up to ₹24.62 lakh due to which the bank was about to take possession of their flat. In their plea before the high court, the siblings shared that the family had been paying instalments regularly until their father's health crisis and proved this with bank records. Moved by their circumstances, justice Anupinder Singh Grewal facilitated a settlement — with the bank agreeing to close the case at ₹10 lakh in view of the 'exceptional circumstances'. The court went a step further, asking the bank to consider supporting the siblings' education. The bank's counsel agreed to examine it under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. 'We expect respondent number 4 (the bank) to favourably consider the proposal for covering the educational expenses of the petitioners,' the bench said. Additionally, the court directed the Punjab government to consider the siblings' request for financial aid 'sympathetically' under social welfare schemes, if they apply. During proceedings, the siblings also sought time to arrange the ₹10 lakh settlement amount, which they hope to raise through contributions from Good Samaritans. The court allowed this and gave them until June 30, 2025, to make the payment. '...the petition is disposed of with a direction that in the event of the petitioners paying a sum of ₹10 lakh by June 30, 2025, their loan account be settled and the title deed of the secured asset be released to the petitioners,' the court ordered.
