HC refuses to entertain petition of Punjab Congress leaders

In a setback to Punjab Congress, Punjab and Haryana High Court today "dismissed as withdrawn" two petitions, filed by its chief Partap Singh Bajwa and another senior party leader, seeking a CBI probe into the drug racket, which was recently busted by police.
However, Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli granted the duo liberty to assist the court in a pending petition relating to the issue of drug menace.
The petition was filed by former Director General of Police (prisons) Shashi Kant and is slated to come up for hearing on January 29.
Brar had filed the petition on January 6 demanding a CBI probe based on the disclosures made by dismissed policeman and alleged drug smuggler Jagdish Singh Bhola.

The Congress leader had alleged involvement of Punjab ministers in the drug racket.
Referring to a report on drug menace in the state by the former DGP Shashi Kant, Brar had claimed that on an average seven out of ten youths in Punjab are addicted to drugs.

Brar averred that the reports were well documented and authentic. "The cross border terrorism also flourishing due to drug trafficking ruining Punjab and the country," he had claimed. A similar demand was made by the PPCC chief Bajwa.
Refusing to entertain the petitions, the Bench ruled that it is "not inclined " to "entertain the petition as the larger issue is already before the court".

The court said,"We, thus, put to petitioner that if he so desires, he can always assist us in that matter. In view of the aforesaid, the petitioner, who is appearing in person does not press the petition. Dismissed as withdrawn with the liberty to petitioner to assist us in the said case".
The High Court, last month, had impleaded CBI as respondent into a pending petition concerning drugs menace in Punjab.
Also, the High Court had directed Punjab, last month, to furnish a status report on steps initiated so far by it to deal with the menace.