Expedite probes or face music: HC to officers

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that if steps are not taken to expedite probes in criminal cases against MPS/MLAS, it will have to summon the supervising officers.

Taking up a suo motu plea initiated on the Supreme Court orders to monitor probes in criminal cases against legislators and parliamentarians, the high court bench of justice Rajan Gupta and justice Karamjit Singh said: “This court has no hesitation in making it clear that in case needful is not done, it has no option but to seek personal appearance of all senior officials who are entrusted with supervising the stage of pending investigations/trials.”

Earlier, amicus curaie in the case, senior advocate Rupinder Khosla told the court that in all those cases where stay is operating, respective investigating/ prosecuting agencies need to move an application for vacation of the same in view of Supreme Court order.

Lawyers representing investigating agencies and states of

Punjab and Haryana had assured the court that the issue raised by Khosla would be looked into and all efforts would be made before the next date of hearing.

Earlier, the Punjab government counsel had failed to give details of criminal cases against MLA Simarjit Singh Bains even as the court had sought details of the same on the last date of hearing on July 27.

The bench said it was not inclined to grant more time but was granting him one opportunity to supply the information.

Posting the matter for September 3, the high court also asked its registry to supply list of cases pending against MPS/ MLAS.

As per initial details, Punjab has said that at least 163 cases are pending against sitting or former MPS and MLAS in the state while a total of 21 cases, including eight against ex-mlas in Haryana, are pending.

On the high court orders, both the states and Chandigarh have appointed nodal officers to monitor and supervise probes. The court started monitoring the probes in February 2021.