Jat stir cases’ withdrawal under HC lens

Chandigarh, April 18

Attempts by the Haryana government to withdraw cases registered during the 2016 Jat reservation agitation came under judicial scanner on Wednesday, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court asking the Home Secretary to furnish details.

A Division Bench of Justices Ajay Kumar Mittal and Anupinder Singh Grewal asked him to file an affidavit on the number of cases sought to be withdrawn and offences for which such FIRs were registered. 

 The directions came after amicus curiae (friend of the court) Anupam Gupta placed newspaper clippings on the withdrawal of prosecution. He submitted that the Parkash Singh Committee, set up after the incidents of lawlessness, had furnished a district-wise report, with details of serious cases.

 He said the magnitude of the agitation had compelled Justice Amit Rawal to draw a parallel with the Partition mayhem after he took suo motu cognisance. 

The Bench asked the SIT headed by IPS officer Amitabh Dhillon to file a status report on the FIRs in connection with the violence, except five cases with the CBI and Murthal case. — TNS