Judge recuses himself from hearing Punjab drugs

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Matter relates to mafia operating in state having international links

Chandigarh, September 1

The Punjab drugs case could not make any headway today after a judge recused himself from hearing the matter. The case will now be placed before the Chief Justice for further orders.

“Be listed before some other Bench of which one of us (Ajay Tewari, J.) is not a member after soliciting orders from Hon’ble the Chief Justice,” the High Court asserted.

The Bench had earlier made clear its intent to examine the inquiry reports submitted by during the past couple of year before proceeding further in the matter. The Special Division Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Ajay Tewari had also directed High Court Registrar (Judicial) to produce the reports in the chambers before August-end.

The directions came during the hearing of an application filed by advocate Navkiran Singh for advancing the date of hearing in the case. Taking up the matter through videoconferencing, the Special Bench observed that it had been recently constituted, while the various inquiry reports were submitted two to three years back and were required to be perused.

Appearing on the behalf of Lawyers for Human Rights International, counsel Navkiran Singh had earlier prayed that the Bench “may open” a report lying in a sealed cover in the case. He had contended the matter related to drug mafia operating in the state of Punjab and was having international tentacles. It was required to be dealt with on an urgent basis as it affected the lives of the Punjabi youth. — TNS