Justice Ranjit files criminal complaint against Sukhbir, Majithia

CHANDIGARH: Justice Ranjit Singh (retd), who headed the commission of inquiry on sacrilege cases, has filed a criminal complaint in the Punjab and Haryana high court against former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Akali minister Bikram Majithia for bringing “disrepute” to the panel and a former HC judge.

It is learnt that HC has taken note of the complaint filed earlier this week and has ordered listing of the complaint for hearing on judicial side.

It is learnt that the complaint has been filed against Badal for his utterances against the commission outside the assembly, when the report was tabled in August 2018, and thereafter. Badal had termed the report “fabricated” and raised questions even on the law degree of the former judge, the high court is learnt to have been told demanding that channels and newspapers, which carried the statements, be directed to preserve the record.

Justice Singh has invoked the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, seeking action against Sukhbir and Majithia. Under Section 10A, the commission of inquiry member can approach high court following which the court can initiate proceedings against the said person.

If found guilty, the person may face up to six-month jail. Proceedings on such a complaint are undertaken in the high court and the accused person is given a chance of hearing his side, before arising at a decision.

Section 10 A of COI says if any person, by words either spoken or intended to be read, makes or publishes any statement or does any other act, which is calculated to bring the commission or any member thereof into disrepute, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.

The panel was set up by the Congress government in April 2017. It submitted report on June 30, 2018, holding that the Faridkot incident of firing in October 2015 was unprovoked and uncalled for. In the complaint, the former judge is further learnt to have said that Sukhbir termed report “a pile of waste paper” and referred to the judge as “injustice” Ranjit Singh and attacked his religious status as well as an HC judge before media.

ACCUSES THE TWO OF BRINGING ‘DISREPUTE’ TO THE PANEL AND A FORMER HC JUDGE; IF FOUND GUILTY, THE DUO MAY FACE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL