Patiala, December 11
Shiromani Akali Dal today urges State Election Commission (SEC) to issue requisite directions for free and fair conduct of Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections as per orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and also urged it to send controversial viral audio of Patiala Police for verification to Independent agency outside jurisdiction of Punjab Government.
Talking to media here, Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kler Chief Spokesman Akali Dal said that Punjab and Haryana High Court’s detailed order on the issue taken by the Akali Dal in a public interest litigation (PIL) by former Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema has come out today. He said that High Court has address the issue we have taken before it that Punjab Government was misusing Punjab Police for capturing democratic process in the state. He said that High Court has strictly told the SEC to issue requisite orders for ensuring free and fair elections and also telling SHOs and other officials to not to work for a single political party.
Advocate Kler said that High Court has also told Punjab Government and SEC to send controversial viral audio for verification to Independent agency outside the purview of Punjab Government. He said that High Court has also asked SEC that it was its responsibility to act instantly once the audio went viral but it failed to do so. He said that though Punjab Government unsuccessfully tried to convince the court that PIL can’t be filed in election process, but its directions High Court has made it clear that it was its jurisdiction to decide on maintainability of the petition and hence it issued directions. He also said that now after the High Court directions enquiry by ADGP SPS Parmar has turned infructuous, hence this should be stopped immediately.
