New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court to secure and preserve the records of the Prime Minister and directed the state of Punjab, Special Police Force, and central and state agencies to assist the Registrar General to provide entire record immediately of security lapse that happened Wednesday.
The bench comprising of CJI NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Hima Kohli was hearing a petition that sought an investigation into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach on his way to address a political rally in Ferozpur. He was stuck on a flyover for around 20 minutes due to blockage after which he had to return ultimately.
The state of Punjab and the central government both have constituted a committee to look into the matter. However, in today's hearing, the petitioner raised doubt about Punjab's committee as the chairman was a suspect in a service scam. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh for Petitioner urged the court to direct a district judge with the assistance of NIA officers to investigate the matter.
SG Tushar Mehta appearing for the central government also urged for NIA's involvement. SG Mehta submitted before the court that is one of the "rarest of the rare" case which had "serious potential of causing international embarrassment". He also mentioned a video released by banned organisation Sikhs for justice whose chairman had called for people to come together and do xyz things which would also be a case of cross-border terrorism. On Punjab's committee, SG said that one of the members is the home secretary who might be under scanner himself.
Advocate General DS Patwalia appearing for Punjab contended before the court argued that it can also raise allegations over the centre's committee as one of the members S Suresh was responsible for the overall security and he can also be doubted if Punjab's officer can be doubted.
Advocate General Patwalia submitted that the state of Punjab is certainly not taking the incident lightly, the grave incident should not have happened and the state will go into the roots of the incident. He submitted that the state is not taking the matter as adversarial, it constituted a committee before the matter came in SC and has also gotten an FIR registered in Firozpur.
He urged the court to appoint an independent committee where both the parties can go and submit their concerns. He apprehended that if only the centre's committee is allowed then the entire onus of mishap would fall onto Punjab.
"Our CM has said that he is our Prime Minister. Even though the incident is political I am not going there, both committees can give reports in a sealed cover, and then your lordships can decide," submitted Patwalia.
The court directed the preservation of records for the time being and adjourned the matter for Monday i.e 10th January to decide further on committees.
Read: MHA constitutes panel to probe PM's security breach during Punjab visit
