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Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday restrained the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes from interfering in any manner with the investigation into the FIR lodged against Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The direction came from Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri, who is hearing Warring’s plea challenging the legality of the notice issued to him by the Commission during the recently held Tarn Taran Assembly bypolls. Warring was represented by senior advocate Bipan Ghai, assisted by advocate Nikhil Ghai. A day earlier, the matter had come up before Justice Suvir Sehgal, who recused himself after observing that the petitioner’s counsel had pressed urgency in the case. Following the recusal, the matter was placed before Justice Puri for hearing.
FIR and Challenge to the Commission’s Action
The FIR against Warring pertains to allegations that he made derogatory and casteist remarks against the late former Union Home Minister Buta Singh. In his petition, Warring has questioned the SC Commission’s decision to initiate suo motu proceedings, calling it politically driven and lacking legal backing.
The petition asserts that the notice issued to him was served without disclosing the underlying complaint, supporting documents, or any material indicating a cognisable violation. Warring has argued that such omission deprived him of a fair opportunity to prepare his defence.
According to the plea, the Commission has “transgressed its powers” by acting without jurisdiction and contrary to the statutory framework, which requires a complaint supported by evidence before any action can be initiated. He has further alleged that the timing and manner of the Commission’s intervention reflect “malice in law”, aimed at causing political harm to him as a sitting MP and the president of the state Congress unit.
During Friday’s hearing, the bench noted the submission that the Commission had begun intervening in the matter. The court then directed the Punjab SC Commission not to obstruct, interfere with, or influence the ongoing investigation into the FIR. Further proceedings in the case will continue before Justice Puri.
