New Delhi, January 28
The Supreme Court today admitted an appeal of Chandigarh District and Sessions Judge H S Bhalla, challenging an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, impleading him as a party in a public interest litigation (PIL) on the Burail jail break issue.

While admitting the appeal of Mr Bhalla, a Bench headed by Chief Justice R C Lahoti directed listing of the matter in March for further hearing.

Mr Bhalla was made a party in the PIL filed by Viresh Shandilya and some other persons, by the High Court in the capacity of a “visiting” judge to the jail, from where the accused in former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh murder case, along with one more alleged terrorist, had escaped by digging a tunnel.

Mr Bhalla had challenged the High Court’s last year order on the ground that he was in no manner associated with the administration of the jail as he was a “visiting” judge to the prison only to find out the legal problems of the inmates or any violation of their fundamental rights.

The administration of jail was purely a matter of the state and in this case that of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, in whose jurisdiction the Burail jail fell, the District Judge had contended.