:dateline:The Punjab & Haryana High Court today conducted hearing on the petition filed by Sarbat Khalsa organizers seeking permission to hold the event at Talwandi Sabo on November 10. After listening to the arguments of petitioner and the Punjab government, the High Court deferred next hearing onto November 8.
Notably, the organizers of Sarbat Khalsa 2016 had moved a petition in Punjab & Haryana High Court immediately after the denial of permission to hold the event�by the Bathinda administration. The Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda Basant Garg had denied permission to hold Sarbat Khalsa 2016 citing vulnerability to law & order and communal harmony in the state.
Following the Sarbat Khalsa 2015 last year at village Chabba, the Punjab police had registered an FIR against the organizers under various sections of Cr. P.C (Code of Criminal Procedure). The organizers of Sarbat Khalsa 2015 and the Jathedars appointed by it were then arrested and put behind bars. While conducting hearing on this case, the High Court had said that calling and holding Sikh congregation was not illegal at all. The High Court had also granted bails to all the arrested organizers of Sarbat Khalsa 2016.
