Petition in HC seeks stay on VB cases against Capt

CHANDIGARH: Is the Punjab vigilance bureau violating the guidelines governing it and slapping cases without the approval of administrative commety concerned? This question was raised in a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, seeking an explanation from the Punjab government as to why it was not complying with the guidelines.

Significantly, the matter came for hearing before justice Mehtab Singh Gill on the very first day of his taking charge as acting chief justice of the high court.

The petitioners have also sought direction to stay the proceedings in trial courts at Ludhiana, Mohali and Patiala in cases, including those against former chief minister Amarinder Singh, ex-DGP Sarbdeep Singh Virk and others, initiated without following the guidelines. The prayer is also for summoning the record pertaining to these high profile cases so as to look into the illegalities committed by VB while registering them.

After the preliminary hearing, the division bench while issuing notices for January 18, 2010, to Punjab government and the chief director, Punjab vigilance, asked as to why the stay be not granted on the proceedings in trial courts in cases where guidelines had not been adhered to.

The petition was filed by Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, a former member of the Punjab law commission, and two others. The petitioners have also sought directions to the government for action against those VB officers who have intentionally violated the guidelines to serve their own ends. They further alleged that the bureau is operating as an “oppressive outfit” to settle personal and political scores without following the relevant guidelines.

“Use of brute force for making a mockery of law and making the person, even if innocent, face prosecution has been the dictum,” alleged the petitioners.