Court calls for transcript of DGP’s ‘no interview in Punjab jail’ statement in Lawrence Bishnoi case

Less than a month after the Punjab and Haryana High Court called for an explanation for a previous statement made by the Director-General of Police (DGP) that “known criminal” Lawrence Bishnoi was not interviewed in any jail in Punjab, a division bench today made clear its intent to go deep into it. The bench directed that the transcript of the DGP’s statement made in a press conference be placed before it.

The bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji also directed Punjab Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, to be present before the bench on the next date of hearing in December first week.

The bench also took note of the state’s submission that a retired high court judge had been appointed to conduct an inquiry into the matter. But the state was willing to reconsider the matter and “suggestions would be placed with regard to the list of names of the retired high court judges before this court on the next date of hearing”.

The bench, during the course of hearing, further took note of the “prevailing conditions in jail” brought to the court’s notice by an inmate appearing through videoconferencing. The bench made it clear that the inmate could send a written note to the court as well. The court also directed ADGP, prisons, to file an affidavit indicating the progress in implementing measures for augmenting jail security.

At the very onset, Punjab Advocate-General Gurminder Singh assured the court that strict action would be taken against the delinquent officers and disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the officers. The bench was also told that competent authority for initiating action against the officers DSP rank and above was the Department of Home Affairs and Justice.

The bench was assisted in the matter by amicus curiae Tanu Bedi, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain and senior government counsel for the Union of India Arun Gosain. The bench, on a previous date of hearing, had taken on record the state’s submission that seven Punjab police officers/officials had been placed under suspension and departmental proceedings had been initiated following the interview. “This court, by order dated August 7 had specifically directed that action should be taken against the senior officers who had facilitated the interview and the lower level officers should not be made scapegoats. No action appears to have been taken against the senior officers of the district,” the bench asserted in response to the submission.