Punjab and Haryana High Court opens today after month-long summer break; to hear politically sensitive cases

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, July 4

The Punjab and Haryana High Court opens on Monday after a month-long summer break to hear, among other things, politically sensitive cases, including pleas filed by ex-ministers Vijay Singla and Bikram Majithia.

Arrested by Punjab Police in a corruption case, former health minister in the AAP-led Punjab government Singla had earlier moved the High Court seeking a regular bail.

Senior Akali leader and former minister Majithia, too, is seeking a regular bail. The court had reserved verdict in Majithia’s case, but the matter had been listed for re-hearing.

Congress leader Alka Lamba and former AAP leader-cum-poet Kumar Vishwas had separately moved the High Court before the vacations seeking the quashing of cases registered against them. Both the petitions are scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday.

Another High Court Bench will hear a writ petition filed by “staunch followers” of Dera Sacha Sauda alleging the replacement of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh with a “dummy person”.

The High Court, during the vacation, had issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents on the two pleas filed by murdered Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s manager Shagan Preet Singh.

He had claimed “serious threat” from alleged gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar in his anticipatory bail in last year’s murder case of Youth Akali Dal leader Vikramjeet alias Vicky Middukhera. The other petition was filed seeking directions for protection of life and liberty. Both the pleas are scheduled to come up for hearing.