Fast track cases against bigwigs, thunders high court

Shocked at the inordinate delay in delivery of justice in cases involving bigwigs, the Punjab and Haryana high court  made a strong case on Monday for fast-tracking cases pending against top cops, bureaucrats and politicians.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the unusual delay in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case — it took 19 years to announce former DGP of Haryana SPS Rathore guilty — the court issued notices to the states of Punjab, Haryana and the union territory (UT) of Chandigarh, seeking details of cases involving  bigwigs.

“Ruchika’s case has shaken the conscience of the nation,” justice Ranjit Singh said. Courts cannot absolve themselves of the blame when well-connected people “circumvent the system” and delay investigations and even the trial, he said, observing that the case was an example of “justice delayed is justice denied’’.

“The blame for this has to be shared by all concerned, including the justice delivery system,” the judge said.

He said powerful people occupying high positions had been generally manipulating the system at all levels and at all stages.

“One would always hear the names of police officers, politicians and other highly-connected people, who have not allowed either the investigation or the trial to reach the decision stage with requisite speed,” justice Ranjit Singh said.

“Lest the courts are again caught up with a blame, I deem it appropriate to suo motu put the states of Punjab, Haryana and the UT to notice to furnish details of cases pending against police officers of the rank of superintendent and above, other officers (of the Punjab Civil Service and the Indian Administrative Service) in position and politicians, whose cases are pending adjudication with delay, and the causes thereof.”

The matter will now be placed before the appropriate bench after orders from the Punjab and Haryana chief justice.