The Punjab andHaryana High Court on Tuesday advanced the hearing on the Punjab drugs haulcase by a month. The suo motu case against the state was initially scheduled tobe heard on November 15 will now be heard on October 13.
Before the hearing on Tuesday, the Punjab PCC chiefNavjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, “STF Report on Drugs will finally see light of dayafter 2.5 yrs of delay in sealed covers, court naming main culprits behind drugtrade will be first victory for youth & suffering mothers of Punjab.”
Notably, just a few months ago Sidhu was criticisingthen-Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for failing to act on the STF reportand not making it public despite the court's order.
Looks like it’s turn for the Channi-Sidhu government toact on the drug menace in Punjab and ensure that the reports are made publicnow.
Advocate Navkiran Singh, appearing on behalf of Lawyersfor Human Rights International, who is pursuing the case in the court, believesthe same.
On the day the Punjab and Haryana High Court advanced thehearing in the Punjab drugs case, Advocate Singh told Indian Express that nowis the time for Sidhu to act through on his promises and ensure that the reportis made public, now that Capt Amarinder has been ousted from office.
It is worth noting that Captain Amarinder Singh wasattacked by rebellion for not making the STF reports and failure ininaction. Being critical of Capt AmarinderSingh and his government, Sidhu had accused then CM of taking no action ondrugs to protect the Badals and Majithia.
In a thread of tweets in August, the state party headstated that Congress's 18-point agenda prioritised punishing drug traffickers. He also inquired about the status of SAD leader BikramSingh Majithia.
“In February 2018, STF headed by ADGP Harpreet Sidhufiled “status report” in Punjab & Haryana High Court, investigatingstatements & evidence recorded by ED that were submitted before Hon’bleCourt in case of Bikramjit Singh Majithia & others involvement in Drugtrafficking,” the cricketer turned politician remarked.
Sidhu further went on to ask: “What investigation hadPunjab Police done? What action had Punjab Govt taken? Must be brought into thepublic domain. Since the submission of reports, what further action did thestate take in 2.5 years? Govt must make itself accountable to the Public withcomplete transparency !!”
“Govt must move plea for preponement of opening of sealedreports to the earliest taking case against Majithia to a logical conclusion,punishing the guilty,” urged Sidhu.
Now, the tables have turned and Advocate Navkiran Singhhas accused Channi-Sidhu led Congress of using excuses not to act on the case.“There has been no hold on any action proposed by the Punjab government in theSTF report. The state government is dragging its feet on the issue with thedeliberate intent of postponing the matter,” claimed advocate Singh.
Mr Singh further claimed that the HC has set norestrictions on the Punjab government that prevents it from taking actionagainst those found prima facie guilty in the STF report.
In response to Navkiran's claims, Advocate General APSDeol stated that the High Court proceedings are progressing because the courthas taken notice of the subject on its own accord.
“In this case, the state government has not even filed anFIR. How can it take any action while the court is investigating it on its owninitiative? There is no stay in place, but it is unethical to proceed withoutthe approval of the High Court since they asked the government's opinion on theSTF report and have yet to issue an order,” Deol added.
The new dispensation in the state government, accordingto the AG, has no intention of dragging the case.
In response to Deol’s arguments, Navkiran Singh said:"The intentions of the new dispensation are also exposed by the fact thatthey never made an application in the court for a speedy conclusion.”
“After taking over as AG, A P S Deol should have done sothe next day. And, in terms of not opposing my plea for a speedy conclusion,even the previous Attorney General, Atul Nanda, never opposed it in court, andthe case went on”, Mr Singh argued.
With both the parties claiming that they are working forjustice, the case apparently remains dangling. It won’t be wrong to say thatthe reports might remain sealed as long as Congress rules Punjab. Now all eyesstay on the October 13th hearing after which High Court will be closed for theDussehra break.