BREAKING | Security Lapse During Prime Minister's Punjab Visit Mentioned Before CJI; Supreme Court To Consider Plea For Probe Tomorrow
The security lapse during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India today morning.Senior Advocate Maninder Singh mentioned the matter before the CJI and requested the Court to take up a writ petition seeking a judicial probe into the incident urgently. The CJI asked the senior counsel to serve the copy to Punjab Government and agreed...
The security lapse during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India today morning.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh mentioned the matter before the CJI and requested the Court to take up a writ petition seeking a judicial probe into the incident urgently. The CJI asked the senior counsel to serve the copy to Punjab Government and agreed to hear the matter tomorrow.
"It has to be ensured that this is not be repeated. This writ petition be taken up", Senior Advocate Singh submitted
"What is it that you're expecting from us?", CJI asked.
"It has to be ensured it is not repeated. Professional and effective investigation is needed into bandobast. Given the atmosphere today, it would be appropriate under your monitoring for District judge of Bhatinda to take into custody entire records.
He (PM) was visiting Firozpur. It's extremely relevant to ensure it doesn't happen again in the atmosphere today. The record has to be taken by the District judge, and thereafter your lordships may decide what steps are to be taken. Please consider passing an order today itself", Singh urged.
"Serve copy to State Government we will take it tomorrow", CJI said.
The incident happened yesterday when PM Modi was travelling by road from Bathinda to National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala. The PM's convoy was stuck for 15-20 minutes on the flyover due to a road blockade by some protestors. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs described the incident as a "major lapse" in PM's security.
Details of the petition
The petition has sought directions to the District Judge, Bhatinda, to collect all official documents and materials from all possible sources pertaining to the movements and deployment of Punjab Police in connection with the visit at the earliest and produce the same before the Supreme Court
Further, directions have been sought fixing responsibility of State of Punjab, and its Chief Secretary and place them under suspension and further direct Union of India to initiate departmental action against the same.
According to the petitioner organisation, it attempts to bring to the notice of the Court the events that took place in the State of Punjab on 5th January 2022 resulting in the breach of the security of a high constitutional office in the country.
Relying on news reports, the petition has argued that it was clearly intentional and raises a serious question as to national security and the role played by the present political dispensation in the State of Punjab.
The petitioner has submitted that the lapse in the security of the Prime Minister was occasioned clearly in connivance with the Punjab Police and it was only the Punjab Government that knew the precise route of the Prime Minister which is never shared due to high-security reasons.
Therefore the petitioner has argued that proceedings be initiated against the erring officials and other persons responsible for breaching the security of the Prime Minister as a part of a pre-meditated, pre-planned conspiracy to breach the security of the Prime Minister and bring national security in jeopardy.
"Considering the prevalent situation, which clearly has a national security implication, the highest standard of security arrangements was imperative and as per protocol, the car for the Chief Secretary and DGP or their nominees of the visiting state is earmarked and supposed to join the motorcade. However, as per the reports, neither chief secretary /representative nor DG/representative joined the motorcade during the movement of the Prime Minister." the plea states
The plea states that a situation wherein a high constitutional functionary is stranded on a flyover is an extremely high-security threat considering the vulnerability and the degree of planning and protection required for the office of the Prime Minister.
Relying on reports, the petition has submitted that the local administration took part in the blockage and the security lapse.
"It is clear from the events that private persons were given access to the Prime Minister's route, and other persons were instigated to join the blockade, which represents a serious and unpardonable breach of national security by the State apparatus and the political establishment of the State." the plea states
Case Title: Lawyers Voice Vs State of Punjab
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