Punjab and Haryana High Court to consider timeline for hearing in drug case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

More than three years after proceedings in the Punjab drug case came to a virtual standstill, the matter came up for effective hearing this afternoon with the Punjab and Haryana High Court making clear its intent to come out with a timeline for hearing the issues, including opening of the special task force report and extradition of the accused.

The Bench of Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Ashok Kumar Verma fixed the next hearing for Thursday, the last working day before the High Court closes for the Dasehra break.

Political connect

• Opening of the STF report submitted in the multi-crore drugs case sought
• PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu has repeatedly tweeted about report opening
• Matter relates to drug mafia operating in Punjab and having international links

As the case came up for hearing for the first time before it, the Bench took up a 13-point synopsis , submitted by advocate Navkiran Singh. The synopsis, summing up the proceedings ever since the High Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter

way back in September 2013, was submitted by Navkiran Singh on the previous date of hearing in the matter,

underscoring drug menace in Punjab and requesting for judicial scrutiny.

Navkiran Singh, among other things, called for the opening of reports submitted in the matter. One of the reports submitted in a sealed cover by the Punjab Government was gone through by the Bench in May 2018 before it was re-sealed.