HC seeks affidavit over BBMB chief’s claim against Punjab cops
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday asked the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman to file an affidavit on his claim that the Punjab Police stopped the release of additional water to Haryana.
The directive came just two days after Punjab was directed to abide by the BBMB decision to release 4,500 cusec extra water to Haryana and not to interfere in the board’s functioning.
Appearing before the HC Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel through videoconferencing, BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi apprised the court that two BBMB officials directed to release 200 cusec water to Haryana were restrained by the police.
The Chairman also claimed he was “gheraoed” at the guest house by some civilians after which the Punjab Police rescued him. Taking a note of his submissions, the Bench asked Tripathi to file his statement on an affidavit.
Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain was also asked to produce minutes of the May 2 meeting held under the Union Home Secretary’s chairmanship, where it was decided to release 4,500 cusec extra water to Haryana over for eight days to meet its urgent requirement. The matter will now come up for further hearing on May 9.
The Bench was hearing an application for directing Punjab, its instrumentalities and officials to release the chairman and officials from the illegal detention/custody. Directions were also sought for initiation of proceedings for wilful disobedience and obstruction in the compliance of the HC order dated May 6.
The applicants also sought directions for deploying Central forces/CISF forthwith following “obstruction, hindrance and law and order situation” created by Punjab at the Bhakra Nangal Dam and Lohan Control Room Water Regulation office.
“As per social media reports and news channels, Punjab Cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains released a statement to the effect that they will not allow water from the BBMB to Haryana at any cost. As reported today by a large section of the media, he, along with his supporters and the police, detained the BBMB Chairman and board officers. Such illegal act and action of Punjab erodes public trust, which is sacrosanct right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the application added.
The application was moved through counsel R Kartikeya and Ridhi Bansal, senior counsel Gurminder Singh appeared for Punjab, while ASG Satya Pal Jain appeared for the Union Government.
Punjab