Jupinderjit Singh
Chandigarh, January 19
Justice Ranjit Singh (retd), who headed the commission looking into various sacrilege cases, on Wednesday castigated the SAD-BJP government (2012-17) and the Congress government (2017-22) besides, the police and the judiciary, respectively, for endless probe and failure in the delivery of justice to the victims.
No party has done enough
Justice has not been delivered. Neither the SAD nor the Congress has done enough. Six years since the first case, the probe is still on. How much more time is needed? Justice Ranjit Singh (retd)
Clamour for justice
Various probes by the SITs into the sacrilege cases made little headway, leaving the public clamouring for justice. Justice SS Sodhi, former Chief Justice of Allahabad HC
Just a month before the state goes to the elections where sacrilege is a burning issue, Justice Ranjit Singh launched his book ‘The Sacrilege’ (Unistar Books) on Wednesday. In a special note at the end of the books, he wrote the incidents continue to be “hot potatoes” for the government to handle.
Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court SS Sodhi and former judges Justice Nawab Singh and Justice Mahesh Grover released the book. Justice Sodhi said various investigations by the SITs into the sacrilege cases had made little headway, leaving the public clamouring for justice.
In the book, Justice Ranjit Singh mentioned that he had submitted his inquiry report in a record time of 14 months but the police probe was still on. “What are they investigating now?”
“Young Ajit Singh who lost movement in one of his legs has still not been given a government job and due compensation. Disciplinary action against policemen held guilty by the commission is awaited both by the government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
Not sparing the judiciary in his book and comments made at the release, Justice Ranjit Singh said he found the judicial intervention in the cases quite extraordinary. He further said he had to bring the book out in the public domain so that truth could prevail.
“The High Court has apparently gone much beyond its jurisdiction in granting blanket bail to a former DGP, who has been the main person responsible for the brutal police actions (firing on protesters). In a most unprecedented manner, the HC has stalled the probe into the case against the DGP till the state Assembly elections. It has failed to realise that a new SIT had been formed on the directions of the coordinate Bench.”
On timing the release of the book near to the elections, he said he had no political agenda. “It is just a coincidence that the book is being released now.”
Talking to the media, Justice Ranjit Singh reiterated that on the basis of his probe, Dera Sacha Sauda followers conspired and carried out the sacrilege incidents; then DGP Sumedh Saini and then CM Parkash Singh Badal were responsible for police firing on the protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura and SAD leaders were behind various events leading to sacrilege incidents.
In the 14-chapter book, first 12 pages include the probe report while the last two are his comments on the recommendations made by the Judicial Commission and the present state of affairs regarding the incidents.
Dera followers behind sacrilege incidents: Justice Ranjit Singh
{$excerpt:n}
