The District Bar Association (DBA) today continued its dharna on Ferozepur Road near the DC office to press for their demand for registration of an First Information Report (FIR) against STF in-charge Harbans Singh & his dismissal from the service on the accusations of beating a city-based lawyer, Varun Gupta.
Meanwhile, Justice Lisa Gill of the Punjab & Haryana HC, while hearing the writ petition moved by Varun Gupta, has asked the state to take necessary action as per law. The HC has sought the status report & adjourned the matter till Mar 5.
“At this stage, Sh Jaskaran Singh, Inspector-General of Police, Range Ludhiana, informs that as per the information received by him, respondent no: 6 (STF in-charge Harbans Singh), shall be transferred from his present place of posting at Ludhiana,” says the High Court order.
“Needless to say, it is expected that necessary action in accordance with law shall be taken by the authorities,” observed the HC.
A battery of lawyers, including Bar Council member from city Harish Rai Dhanda, Harpreet Brar & Jaiveer Yadav, HC Bar Association president DPS Randhawa, asserted that as per the landmark judgment of Lalit Jain, the police were bound to register an First Information Report (FIR) first & then investigate any cognisable offence. Dhanda claimed in the court that the police was under the immense pressure of STF state chief, & not taking any action.
Talking to News Agency, Dhanda said they also highlighted one First Information Report (FIR) registered under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at the Basti Jodhewal police station, which was pending before the Illaqa Magistrate for consideration on the cancellation report, in which STF in-charge Harbans Singh was facing serious accusations. He said in two other matters involving the same police officer, the HC had passed directions but the same were also not complied with seriously.
Khanna SSP Harpreet Singh & DSP STF Pawanjit were also present during the court hearing. They apprised the court that the matter was being enquired into by SIT.
Meanwhile, there was no working in the courts as the lawyers continued their strike.
DBA general house meeting today Divulging more details, DBA vice-president Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar & secretary Sham Ahuja claimed that the police faced the heat during court proceedings & they were hopeful of action against the erring officer. They said that a meeting of general house has been called for Mar 4 at 10.15 am for chalking out the future course of action in view of latest developments in the HC.
