The Punjab & Haryana High Court recently directed the authorities in Punjab to acknowledge the concerns raised by Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu regarding his safety and to implement necessary measures, including the provision of adequate security.
A single bench of Justice Raj Mohan Singh directed the State to issue a suitable order within one month.
“If the threat perception based on the aforesaid pleadings made in para Nos.9 and 11 (regarding life threat from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi) is found to be on genuine note, then the competent authority shall proceed to take all corrective steps including enhancement of security cover, if any required. This provision however is subject to final assessment to be made by the competent authority on the basis of further inputs to be received from the concerned quarter and after analysing the inputs provided by the petitioner in the aforesaid pleadings in accordance with law,” the bench stated.
The single bench emphasized that the matter of providing security cover should not be considered a static issue. The bench further stated that Navjot Singh Sidhu would have the freedom to provide his inputs to substantiate the claims regarding threats to his life from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is also alleged to have been involved in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala.
“On receipt of such inputs from the petitioner, the competent authority shall take appropriate action,” it added.
The bench was hearing the writ petition filed by Navjot Singh Sidhu, seeking directions for the State to reinstate his Z+ security, which was purportedly downgraded to Y+ without prior notice.
“The de-categorization of the security may some time prompt the inimical anti-social elements to take drastic step. It is a case of slashing down Z+ security to Y+, which as per Yellow Book has the provision of 11 security personnels to guard the person and place of the individual,” the bench noted.
Justice Singh observed that the State, Central Agencies, and the report from the competent authority had not addressed the two key concerns raised by Sidhu regarding his security. Firstly, the alleged threat to his life from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and secondly, the risk involved in removing his Z+ security while he was in jail due to summons from the Bihar Court.
Directing the State to take appropriate action, the court emphasized that the issue of security falls under the purview of the State and that the court’s intervention should be minimal.
