HC asks Sukhbir, Majithia to appear before court on July 11

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 2

Punjab and Haryana High Court asked Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia to appear in court on July 11 in connection with some statements they reportedly made against a commission that was inquiring into sacrilege cases in the state.

Former judge of Punjab and Haryana High court Ranjit Singh has accused the two leaders of sullying the commission’s reputation. The court is hearing petitions he filed seeking criminal action for the statements.

In Monday’s hearing Justice Amit Rawal heard counsel for Badal and Majithia ask the court to exempt them from personal appearance, a plea that Justice Ranjit Singh’s counsel opposed.

Justice Rawal granted the two leaders exemption from appearance on Monday that “leaders of such eminence were unlikely to flee the country”.    

“Therefore, I deem it appropriate to grant exemption to the respondents from appearance in person today and direct them to appear on the next date of hearing,” he said, but made it clear that the exemption from personal appearance was only for Monday’s hearing.  

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