Moga molestation case: Punjab and Haryana HC asks state govt to file report on action taken

Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government to submit a report on the action taken against the bus staff in Moga molestation case and sought information about bus operators in the state including details of ownership.

A bench of justices Hemant Gupta and Lisa Gill issued notices to Punjab Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, owners of the transport company Orbit Aviation whose bus was involved in the incident and the state’s Transport Commissioner, seeking their response by 15 May.

The court directed the state to produce Action Taken Report against the driver, conductor and other staff of the bus, owned by Orbit Aviation belonging to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s relatives.

It also asked the counsel of Aam Aadmi Party RS Bains and another advocate HS Arora to withdraw their applications on the issue and appointed them as amicus curiae.

The High Court asked the state to give information on the number of buses owned by Punjab Roadways, Pepsu RTC and private operators in Punjab along with details of ownership of each operator.

The high court in Chandigarh had on Monday taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written to it regarding the Moga incident in which a teenaged girl had died after she and her mother were allegedly molested and thrown off a bus, belonging to Orbit Aviation which is owned by relatives of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

However, a bench of the court had also recused from hearing the Moga bus molestation case. As the matter came up for hearing before the division bench of justices Satish Kumar Mittal and Harinder Singh Sidhu on Monday, it withdrew from the matter and referred it to the Chief Justice to be assigned to some other bench. No reason was given for recusing from the matter.

The Moga molestation case had caused a huge uproar in the Parliament as both the houses were adjourned repeatedly on Tuesday as the Opposition protested, demanding a discussion on the case.

When the Rajya Sabha met for the day on Tuesday, Ambika Soni (Congress) had raised the issue saying there was a complete breakdown of law and order in Punjab, necessitating Centre’s intervention.

Other parties including the Left had joined in the protest with Mayawati (BSP) demanding imposition of President’s rule in the state.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha had been adjourned twice amid protests by TRS members demanding immediate creation of a High Court for Telangana, even as the government had said the matter is pending before court.

(With inputs from PTI)