National   

Judicial panel likely to probe allegations against Haryana CM

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI Nov. 3. The Supreme Court today indicated that it would consider appointing a judicial commission on the lines suggested by the Haryana Government to probe into certain allegations of corruption levelled by a senior IAS officer, against the Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala in a writ petition for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the appointment of 3,206 teachers in the State.

A Bench comprising Justice R.C. Lahoti and Justice Ashok Bhan asked senior counsel, Harish Salve, appearing for the State to indicate by November 21 the provisions or law under which the court could vest powers of police investigation on the proposed judicial commission.

The Bench had earlier issued notice to the Chief Minister and others on a petition from Sanjiv Kumar, a suspended IAS officer.

The petitioner had alleged that the appointments made by the Chief Minister were illegal as they were accentuated with malafide and corruption and sought a direction for a CBI probe.

Mr. Salve today submitted before the Bench that the Government was prepared for appointment of a judicial commission, which could be vested with powers of investigation. He also said that he would advise the State Police to keep in abeyance all enquiry and criminal proceedings initiated against Mr. Sanjiv Kumar till the commission was appointed.

He said the commission could go into all the allegations levelled by the IAS officer as well as the proceedings pending before the officer.

Earlier, Mr. Sanjiv Kumar, appearing as party-in person produced an audio cassette in the court claiming to have recorded the voice of "godman" Chandraswamy allegedly threatening him with dire consequences for taking the matter to court. The Bench directed him to deposit the cassette with the Registrar (judicial) in a sealed cover and adjourned the case to November 21.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• U.N.'s position must be restored: PM
• `Interest rates cannot be a one-point agenda'
• Talks process can be extended to militants: Mufti
• Aziz Ahmed Khan calls on Manohar Joshi
• Arunachal beckons tourists
• A royal visitor for the `dabbawallahs'
• BJP finalises first list for Madhya Pradesh
• M.P. Congress leaders' charge against Vajpayee, Uma Bharti
• Congress denies ticket for Dy. CM's nephew in M.P.
• Govt. cancels appointment of Chatterjee as CCI head
• `Gujarat violence a warning to society'
• Appointed
• Narasimha Rao hospitalised
• Media can play a role in peace-building: Pak. MP
• Anti-mining groups demand cancellation of deals
• Concern at Bangladeshi `incursion' into Sunderbans
• Punjabi singer arrested
• Down with `Hogwarts headache'
• Finest international civil servant
• Court directive to Centre on CVC Act
• Judicial panel likely to probe allegations against Haryana CM
• 13 States warned against delay in setting up fast track courts
• Centre to launch Farmer Insurance Income Scheme
• Water Resources Ministry sans Secy.
• Publishers apologise for `offending' picture

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu