HC impleads Centre in plea seeking transfer of Quami Insaaf Morcha
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday impleaded Centre in a petition seeking removal from YPS Chowk in Mohali a group of protesters who have been staging a dharna since January 7 demanding release of Sikh prisoners. The dharna, under the banner of Quami Insaaf Morcha, near the Chandigarh-Mohali border has adversely affected the inter-city movement of traffic.
A bench of Justices GS Sandhawalia and Harpreet Kaur Jeewan directed to implead Centre as a respondent after Advocate General Gurminder Singh, appearing for Punjab government, submitted that the traffic movement was inter state matter (between Union Territory Chandigarh and Punjab).
A detailed order was yet to be released.
The bench adjourned the matter to November 15.
The court order came on the resumed hearing of a plea filled by the NGO ArriveSAFE on March 10. The petition, filed through NGO’s president Harman Singh Sidhu, against Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Punjab government seeks the removal of encroachments from around YPS Chowk.
During the previous hearing, the Punjab government, through an affidavit by Mohali’s Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Sandeep Kumar Garg, had submitted that the protestors at the site are using religious slogans and and have also opened Prakash of Guru Granth Sahib. The protesters, the SSP contended, comprise a number of women and children.
Also, on previous date, Punjab AG had informed the court that if more time is granted, he was hopeful that further progress is possible without resorting to any harsh steps.
