CHARANJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of CWP Nos.23285 of 2018, 25837 of 2018, 25838 of 2018, 27015 of 2018 and 28001 of 2018 pertaining to certain incidents of sacrilege of religious scriptures and violence that ensued as a result thereof. In CWP No.23285 of 2018 the petitioners have posed a challenge to recommendations of Zora Singh Commission report dtd. 29/6/2016 (P-11) set up on 16/10/2015 and the Ranjit Singh Commission report dtd. 30/6/2018 (P-19) set up on 14/10/2017 to conduct an inquiry into the incidents of sacrilege and alleged role played therein by various persons; as also the incidents of firing on 14/10/2015 at Kotkapura and Behbalkalan in which two persons died. It was also entrusted the task of enquiring into role of police officials who allegedly did not investigate properly and dilly-dallied.

(2.) The police officials have challenged proceedings initiated against them pursuant to the Commission reports. In CWP No.25837 of 2018 a similar prayer has been made as in CWP No.23285 of 2018 wherein quashing of reports dtd. 29/6/2016 and 30/6/2018 of Zora Singh Commission and Ranjit Singh Commission, respectively has been sought. Additionally, Action Taken Report (ATR) dtd. 24/8/2018 and order dtd. 17/9/2018 initiating Departmental Enquiry against the petitioner has also been challenged.

(3.) First incident of alleged sacrilege relating to one sarup (set) of Guru Granth Sahib is alleged to have taken place on 1/6/2015 regarding which FIR No.63 dtd. 2/6/2015 u/s 295A and 380 IPC was registered at PS Bajakhana, Distt. Faridkot. Second incident of alleged sacrilege took place on 25/9/2015 wherein two hand-written posters containing sacrilegious content were pasted near a Gurudwara. In this respect FIR No.117 dtd. 25/9/2015 u/s 295A IPC was registered at PS Baja Khana, Distt. Faridkot. Third incident of sacrilege related to alleged dismantling of parts of Guru Granth Sahib. Same were discovered in a street opposite to a Gurudwara in village Barghari. In this respect FIR No.128 dtd. 12/10/2015 u/s 295 and 120B IPC was registered at PS Bajakhana, Distt. Faridkot. Between 12/10/2015 and 14/10/2015 there were mass protests at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan due to the incidents of sacrilege and perceived inaction of the police. The protests allegedly snow-balled into a major agitation on 14/10/2015. This led to firing by police causing injuries to certain protesters and death of two of them. As a result, FIR Nos. 129 was registered on 14/10/2015 at Baja Khana u/s 307 etc. IPC, Arms Act and offences relating to destruction of public property. On the same day FIR No.192 was registered at PS Kotkapura for commission of similar offences.