No power to take suo-motu cognisance: Jat stir probe panel

The two-member inquiry commission set up by the Haryana government to probe the sequence of events leading to violence during the Jat stir for quota in February today said it has no power to take suo-motu cognisance of any incident and can conduct an inquiry only on the basis of complaints received.

Justice (retd) S N Jha, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and Rajasthan High Court, who heads the panel said it was "not an independent inquiry commission and has to work according to the guidelines".

"We will not cross the boundary to probe any incidents...The commission has no power to take suo-moto action in this matter," Jha said.

The panel will only look into formal complaints, with affidavits attached with them, received by it, he said, adding it has only received a compact disc through post which will be examined in its first meeting on July 17.

The panel has to submit a report within six months from the date of its first meeting.