SC directs HC Registrar General to secure records on security arrangements for PM’s visit

New Delhi: The Supreme Court  on Friday directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court  to “forthwith” secure the records, pertaining to security arrangements made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Punjab visit, from  the state government, its police and central agencies.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana also asked the counsel representing the Punjab and the central governments to ask the committees set up by them separately to probe the lapses during the visit of the prime minister to “hold their hands till Monday” when it will hear the plea next.
The top court was hearing the plea of an organisation ‘Lawyer’s Voice’ seeking a  thorough investigation into the breach in Prime Minister Modi’s security in Punjab and ensuring there is no such event in the future.
The bench, also comprising justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, has taken note of the plea alleging serious breach in the prime minister’s security that took place in Ferozepur, Punjab, on Wednesday and it had led to the stalling of his cavalcade in Bathinda for around 20 minutes.
Meanwhile Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari has submitted a report to the Centre regarding the security breach that stalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Punjab visit informing that an FIR has been lodged in the incident and the state government has formed a two-member panel to investigate lapses.
Tewari is learnt to have shared details pertaining to the sequence of events that unfolded during the prime minister’s visit on Wednesday, official sources said on Friday.
On Thursday, the Punjab government had announced a two-member panel to investigate the lapses. The panel has been asked to submit its report in three days.
In a major security lapse, the prime minister’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur on Wednesday after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.
The Union Home Ministry had directed the state government to file an immediate report, saying it did not ensure the required deployment, while Home Minister Amit Shah had said that such dereliction of the security procedure during the prime minister’s visit was totally unacceptable and accountability would be fixed.
The incident triggered a major political row with the BJP alleging that the ruling Congress in Punjab “tried to physically harm” the prime minister, while other parties too attacked the state government over the law and order issue.
The Centre also set up a three-member panel on Thursday to investigate the security breach.