BAKHASHI RAM Vs. SATWANT SINGH MANAK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Original petitioner, namely, Satwant Singh Manak, was a Constable in the Punjab Police. On facing certain disciplinary proceedings, he claims to have had a change of heart and seeks to portray what he claims are police excesses in the form of fake encounters to which he claims to have been an eye witness.

(2.) The petitioner was, however, arrested on 12.04.1993 in the evening at C.I.A. Staff Moga. A member of Parliament from Bhatinda, is stated to have intervened on behalf of the petitioner as also the relative of the petitioner but later on the petitioner was arrested in three cases i.e. in false police encounters having arms without licences and others and later on the department served a notice to the petitioner alleging absence from duty from 21.06.1992. The petitioner claims that he alongwith other police officers on 25.07.1992 carried out a raid in which terrorist Lakhwinder Singh Lakha was arrested while other terrorists escaped. However, later on Lakhwinder Singh Lakha was shown to be arrested and encountered in the vicinity of Police Station Sadak and a Czechoslovakia made gun was alleged to have been recovered from his possession. The petitioner claims that he had played an important role in the arrest of Lakhwinder Singh Lakha but no award or promotion was awarded to him. Some other similarly situated police officials were also not granted award or promotion etc.

(3.) The allegations against respondents No. 4 to 9 contained in paras No. 14 to 18 and thereafter in paras No. 19 to 23 are as under:-