Preserve PM Travel Records, SC Directs Registrar General Of The Punjab And Haryana High Court
New Delhi, Jan 7: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to secure and preserve all the records related to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab in connection with the security breach.
“We direct Punjab and police authorities, SPG and other agencies to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to seal the entire record,” said a Bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.
The Supreme Court also stayed the investigation committees appointed by the Central and state government vis-a-vis the security lapse till January 10 when it hears the matter again.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior law officer representing the Centre, said some officer from the NIA should assist the High Court Registrar General in collecting the evidence including wireless messages related to Modi’s visit as the Registrar General may not be aware of the sources where the records can be got.
The Supreme Court said the Registrar General would take the assistance of the Director General of Police of Chandigarh and a senior NIA official in the collection of evidence.
The court asked the Centre and Punjab to hold hands while proceeding with any inquiry relating to the Prime Minister’s visit.
It asked the Punjab and Centre’s committees to refrain from inquiries till Monday when it will hear the matter again.
Senior advocate D S Patwalia, Advocate General of Punjab, requested the Bench to pass an order to put on hold the proceedings of the Committee set up by the Centre till Monday as it has issued notices to the Punjab DGP and state officials. Patwalia said Punjab will put on hold the operations of its committee.
The top court was hearing a PIL seeking a judicial probe into the breach of security in Punjab.
