-URGES MEDIA TO SHOW RESTRAINT & RESPONSIBILITY IN REPORTING JUDICIAL MATTERS
Chandigarh, July 4: Rubbishing reports of Captain Amarinder Singh being reprimanded by the High Court on the issue of drugs, a Punjab Government spokesperson on Wednesday clarified that the judge had merely taken advantage of the Chief Minister’s incidental presence in her court to request him to look into the matter of strengthening the prosecution methods in criminal cases.
A section of the media had, unfortunately, misinterpreted the incident and projected the entire episode wrongly, said the spokesperson, adding that incorrect representation of a court related matter could have serious repercussions.
How the entire episode was given a negative twist was quite inexplicable and unfortunate, said the spokesperson, urging the media to show restraint and responsibility, particularly in reporting judicial matters.
Giving details of the incident, which was misconstrued by some journalists, the spokesperson said the Chief Minister had presented himself before the High Court of Punjab & Haryana to tender his evidence in an old pending election petition challenging his election to the Patiala Urban constituency in the 2002 Assembly polls. The election petition was listed before a Single Judge of the High Court, Justice Daya Choudhary.
While the Chief Minister was waiting to sign his statement of evidence, the Court proceeded to hear another matter, relating to prosecution in a drug case, wherein the Prosecution had failed to attach the CFSL report to the chargesheet.
The Court then called upon Advocate General Atul Nanda, who had accompanied Captain Amarinder Singh for his deposition, and asked him to look into creating changes so that there could be systematic prosecution of such cases.
Further the Court remarked that “we would like to take advantage of the presence of the Chief Minister” and also urged him to look into the matter on these aspects, so that the dispensation of justice in criminal cases could be better administered and effected by the Courts.
The Court further observed that while Punjab used to be No. 1 State in many positive aspects, unfortunately it was today occupying the said position in a negative sense on account of the drug menace. The Court further said that everyone hopes that Punjab would regain its old glory.
Meanwhile, the election petition for which the Chief Minister had gone to the court has now been adjourned by two weeks for further proceedings.
