The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to provide comprehensive details on the number of FIRs registered across the state in response to complaints from individuals citing threats from gangsters.
Additionally, the court has instructed the state to submit information on any specialised anti-gangster task force that has been formed to handle such cases.
Justice Harkesh Manuja issued these directions while hearing a contempt petition filed by Simarjit Singh through his counsel, Onkar Singh Batalvi, against Additional Director-General of Police (Security) Sudhanshu S. Srivastava.
The court, taking serious note of the matter, has called for an affidavit providing the required details. Furthermore, it has sought an update on the status of the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act and the measures undertaken to expedite investigations under the act.
The court has also granted the government time to clarify whether Punjab has enacted any separate legislation specifically addressing organized crime.
The bench recorded that counsel for the respondent had sought additional time to inform the court on this matter and accordingly scheduled the next hearing for April 3.
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Before concluding the hearing, Justice Manuja issued a strict warning, stating that if the affidavit or compliance report was not submitted before the next hearing, or if the previous court order remained unimplemented, the responsible official would be personally liable to bear litigation costs of ₹50,000 for delaying the proceedings.
The case revolves around the restoration of security cover, with the petitioner alleging non-compliance with previous court orders. Advocate Batalvi informed the court that the writ petition had been disposed of in November last year with a directive to the Additional Director-General of Police (Security) to assess the petitioner’s threat perception.
If a genuine threat to the petitioner’s life and liberty from gangsters or other influential individuals was identified, the authorities were instructed to take necessary legal action and provide security in accordance with the rules set by the state government.
The entire process was to be completed within three weeks of receiving the court’s order.
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