‘Sarbat Khalsa’: Hardliners take battle to High Court

Chandigarh : The tussle between the Punjab Government and the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ organisers has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with at least four petitions being filed by hardliners in connection with the event scheduled for November 10. SAD Amritsar chief Simranjit Singh Mann claimed that the DGP, the Home Secretary and the Transport Secretary were playing into the hands of the ruling Akali Dal. Dhian Singh Mand, who was appointed acting “Jathedar” of the Akal Takht at last year’s “Sarbat Khalsa”, and two other “Jathedar”-petitioners, moved the High Court through counsel Simranjit Singh, seeking anticipatory bail/blanket bail to protect their life and liberty till November 10.
In another petition, the organisers, through counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal, challenged the denial of permission for holding the event. The fourth petition was filed by 31 leaders, seeking directions against their arrest in view of the alleged crackdown on the event supporters and organisers. Taking up Mann’s petition for directions to Punjab and other respondents against alleged police raids and the “unofficial” arrest of party workers and members of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ organisations, the High Court fixed Tuesday as the next date of hearing. The counsel has been asked to furnish details of the arrests.