HC asks Mohali SSP to explain favour charge against cops

Pending civil litigation

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police to explain whether the police authorities were showing favour in a matter despite the pendency of civil litigation.

The direction by Justice Sanjay Kumar came on a petition filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents by Mohammad Shadab Khan through counsel Mansur Ali. The petitioner was seeking directions for ensuring life and security in view of “potent threats” and also “in view of the fact that the local police had been helping the private respondents and not maintaining rule of law”.

Appearing before the Bench through video-conferencing, Mansur Ali on the petitioner’s behalf had added that the local police had no authority to interfere in the matter of civil dispute especially in view of the fact that the matter was sub judice.

The Bench, during the course of hearing, was told that the petitioner had taken a shop in Zirakpur on rent from one of the respondents and was running a tailor shop and carrying out fabric business. But the respondent started threatening and harassing the petitioner, following which he filed a civil suit for permanent injunction.

Alleging that the local police were helping the respondent-proprietor and other respondents, Mansur Ali submitted that the local police were asking the petitioner to settle the matter with respondents with regard to the rented premises. This was despite the fact that the matter was sub judice and the police had no such authority.

He said the private respondents were trying to take possession of the rented premises and were successful to some extent. But the petitioner, because of his personal efforts, was able to save the possession after the respondents tried to put locks on the premises. He later got the locks removed.

Taking up the matter, Justice Kumar asserted: “Reply shall be filed by the Senior Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Mohali, addressing the grievance of the petitioner that the police authorities are showing favour in the matter despite the pendency of civil litigation”. Justice Kumar also issued a notice to the official respondents for October 13.