Chandigarh: Making public its order transferring three cases related to sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Punjab to Chandigarh, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the purpose of transferring these cases is to ensure the safety of the accused and witnesses. Therefore, this order of the court should not be considered as a failure of the investigating agency or the government.
“It is hereby clarified that in view of the safety and security of the accused, the case is being transferred out of Punjab and this order cannot be construed to have any other meaning,” the apex court said in its February 28 order.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia transferred three cases pending in Faridkot to Chandigarh. Along with this, orders have also been given to transfer the criminal case going on in the Moga court. Dera followers, who have been named as accused in the sacrilege case, had filed a petition in the supreme court saying that there was a major threat to the safety of the accused and witnesses of the ongoing case in Faridkot and there had been three murders in the past and the houses of some of the accused were also attacked.
On this, the Supreme Court had directed to transfer these cases to Chandigarh instead of Faridkot and Moga. Punjab government’s counsel Sham Diwan had opposed the transfer of cases out of Punjab, saying the state government has made elaborate arrangements for the security of the accused and witnesses.