Justice Ranjit Singh Lodges Criminal Complaint Against Sukhbir Badal

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The former High Court Judge Justice Ranjit Singh, who headed the Commission of Inquiry in sacrilege and police firing cases, has lodged a criminal complaint against the SAD president Sukhbir Badal for his utterances against the Commission of Inquiry. It is learnt that he has referred to more than one instance where Sukhbir Badal made statements against the commission and its head, which brought it disrepute.

This plea is first of its kind which has been filed using provisions available under section-10 of the Commission of Inquiry Act and Sukhbir Badal might be imprisoned for up to six months by the Court if found guilty. Beside it, the Court may also impose a fine on him along with the imprisonment.  

Section 10 of the Commission of Inquiry says: “If any person, by words either spoken or intended to be read, makes or publishes any statement or does any other act, which is calculated to bring the Commission or any member thereof into disrepute, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months, or with fine, or with both.”

Beside it, the section also makes it clear that the High Court may take cognizance of such offence, without the case being committed to it, upon a complaint in writing, made by a member of a Commission or its officer authorized in this behalf.

It may be recalled here that the Justice Ranjit Singh led Investigation Commission was constituted by the Congress led Punjab government in April 2017. The Commission had submitted its report to the Punjab government in two parts last year. Later, a special debate session was organized by the Congress led Punjab government in the Punjab assembly on this report in late August. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leaders had staged a walk out from the Punjab assembly during this debate session.

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