HC notice to state govt on plea seeking CBI probe
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday put the Punjab government on notice on a plea seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged fudging of voters list for MC polls.
The high court bench of justices Sanjay Kumar and Archana Puri has sought response by March 22.
The plea has been filed by one Surinder Mittal, a social worker from the Phagwara MC. He has demanded that a probe be initiated into the illegality and bunging allegedly committed by officials at the behest of the representatives of ruling party in the state. He had cited example of Phagwara MC in which a case of alleged fudging of electoral rolls has come to light and an FIR was registered on January 13.
The probe of the FIR be handed over to the CBI as despite registration of case, the police, as well as the administration, are tightlipped on the moot point as to who was behind fudging the electoral rolls, it was argued adding that instead of taking action, the SDM was transferred out of his current posting by the government. The incident is only indicative as in all the districts of Punjab similar malpractices have been “adopted”. Similar instances have been reported in Bathinda and Hoshiarpur too, the court was told.
The petitioner had also sought direction that the state be prohibited from further proceedings with the process of voting for MC polls on the basis of the final voter list which has been prepared “fraudulently”.
Giving example of anomalies in the process in Phagwara, the court was told that allegations have surfaced that an employee misused the login ID of the subdivisional magistrate and deleted 36 entries with regard to claims and objections received on MC elections, which comes out to be 800 votes, the court was told adding that the accused tampered with the record at the behest of ex municipal councillors in which entries have been shifted to one ward to another.
PATIALA MP SAYS THEY WILL MEET LOK SABHA SPEAKER AND SEEK DISCUSSION ON IT ON A PRIORITY BASIS
: Congress’ Patiala MP Preneet Kaur said on Tuesday that she along with the party’s Lok Sabha members from Punjab will introduce a private member’s bill in the lower House of Parliament seeking repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.
In a press release, Preneet Kaur said the Congress MPs from the state will also meet the Lok Sabha speaker to request him to allow introduction of the ‘Repealing and Amending Act 2021’ bill on a priority basis besides a discussion on it.
“Just like the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed Acts to repeal the farm laws, we hope that this bill will be supported and passed in Parliament,” she added.The Patiala MP accused the BJP-led central government of trying to destroy the ideals enshrined in our Constitution that was made for the preservation of the rights of people.
“We’re bringing this bill to ensure that our Constitution is not trampled upon. We also extend our support to the protesting farmers who have been forced to sit on roads for their rights against their own government. We have tried everything to support our farmers and to raise their concerns. Our MPs and MLAs have even been sitting on dharna for over a month, but this government has turned a blind eye towards the elected members,” she added.