Ex-DSP challenges dismissal, HC seeks state's response by Feb 20

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought a response from the Punjab government by February 20 on a plea filed by dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh Sandhu, challenging his dismissal following his indictment in the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi interview controversy.

- Surender Sharma

CHANDIGARH:

The Punjab government dismissed Sandhu on January 2 by invoking powers under Article 311 (2) (b) for allegedly facilitating the recording of Bishnoi's interview in September 2022 when the gangster was lodged in the Kharar CIA facility.

In March 2023, a private news channel aired two interviews of Bishnoi. The second one was later found to be recorded in a Rajasthan jail.

The plea says the dismissal order could have been passed after conducting an inquiry and giving reasonable opportunity to the petitioner to clear his stand. The same can be exempted only on the satisfaction of certain reasons to be recorded in writing that it is not reasonably practicable to hold such an inquiry, the plea added.