JAGTAR SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB & OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By filing this petition, the petitioner has sought directions to respondents No.2 to 4 to protect their life and liberty at the hands of respondent Nos 5 to 8.

(2.) As per the averments made in this petition, the petitioner is the Numberdar of three villages. In the year 2011, the petitioner came to know that land belonging to Punjab Government has been encroached upon unauthorisedly by respondent No.6 and he had also got installed a tubewell by showing himself as a cultivator. On coming to know about the forging of documents, the petitioner went to the local police to lodge a complaint against respondents No.5 and 6, but they refused to lodge any complaint. Thereafter, the respondents started harassing the petitioner and his family members. It is the further case of the petitioner that he sent a number of applications to respondents No.2 to 4, but all in vain. It has been alleged in this petition that on 16.4.2012, the petitioner was beaten by respondents No.5 and 6 after being dragged inside the tubewell room. He was taken to the hospital by his son. Thereafter, when he again went to lodge a complaint, the officials of the police station, instead of lodging a complaint, suggested him not to make a complaint, otherwise, it will create a number of problems for him. Petitioner was again beaten on 18.4.2012 and thus, the necessary directions be issued.

(3.) At this stage, it would be relevant to refer to the observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sakiri Vasu v. State of Uttar Pradesh and another, 2008 2 SCC 409, which read thus:-