Punjab & Haryana High Court Impleads Centre To Obtain Inputs On Clearing Road Occupied By Protestors Seeking Release Of Sikh Prisoners

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday ordered impleadment of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in a plea against blockade of road by protestors seeking release of Sikh prisoners in Mohali, after Advocate General for Punjab suggested conducting a "joint operation" with the assistance of central agencies, to clear the site.Quami Insaaf Morcha has been sitting on dharna on the road adjoining YPS Chowk from Chandigarh to Mohali, leading to severe traffic issues. AG Gurminder Singh suggested that it would be appropriate if a joint operation is conducted both by the Chandigarh Police and the Punjab Police with assistance from the Central Government Agencies to clear the site.The Court had earlier warned that it would get the roads cleared by using force, if necessary. "Public roads cannot be blocked and general public cannot be put to inconvenience," it had said.Following this, the concerned authorities interacted with the representatives of Quami Insaaf Morcha and reached a settlement to open one side of the road. However, the Court said traffic conditions haven't returned to normalcy due to the blockade.A division bench Justices G.S Sandhawalia and Harpreet Kaur Jeewan has listing the matter on November 15.The development ensued in a PIL filed by the Arrive Safe Society in March 2023, alleging that the protest has been going on since January 2023, causing inconvenience to the general public who need medical facilities, and school-going students.The protestors seek enhancement of punishment in cases of sacrilege with the Central Government, premature release on good conduct of Sikh prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in former Punjab CM Beant Singh’s assassination and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, a 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict.Appearance: Ravi Kamal Gupta for the Advocate for the petitioner in CWP-PIL-22-2023).Lalit Singh, and Versha Sharma, Advocates, for the petitioner (in CWP-11390-2023). Gurminder Singh, Advocate General, Punjab, with V.G. Jauhar, Addl. A.G., Punjab.Anil Mehta, Advocate, for U.T., Chandigarh. Gurpreet Kaur, Advocate, for GPS Bal, Advocate, for the Protestors.G.S. Dhaliwal, Advocate, for the “Morcha”.Abhinav Sood, Advocate, and Nitesh Jhajhria, Advocate, for respondent Nos.6 to 10.Case Title: Arrive Safe Society v. State Of Punjab & Ors.Click here to download/read the order

Punjab & Haryana High Court Impleads Centre To Obtain Inputs On Clearing Road Occupied By Protestors Seeking Release Of Sikh Prisoners

Aiman J. Chishti

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