The alleged harassment of Panthak Sewa Lehar preachers by the state government has come under judicial scanner. In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, two advocates today alleged that the preachers were time and again harassed by the “Government of Punjab”.
The allegations came as advocates Simranjit Singh and Gurvinder Singh Sidhu sought directions for release of four preachers from the alleged illegal custody. Describing themselves as counsel for the Sewa Lehar, the two alleged that the detainees were arrested on November 11 when they were going to Tarn Taran to pay obeisance at a historic gurdwara.
The petition was placed before the Bench of Justice Jitendra Chauhan this morning. Taking up the matter, Justice Chauhan issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab. The case will now come up for further hearing on Tuesday.
The lawyers further alleged that the respondents were not ready to accept the bail bonds of the detainees. Rather, they were not even ready to produce them before the Magistrate concerned. The police authorities, too, were not allowing them to engage a lawyer of their choice. They alleged that the detainees were victims of police animosity at the instance of the ruling government of the state.