Chandigarh. Allegations of transactions in the name of transfer and posting of officers to getting tenders, licenses and other government approvals have heated up the political atmosphere in Punjab. After the Punjab and Haryana High Court handed over the investigation of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), now the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has decided to challenge this order in the Supreme Court.
According to the Punjab government, it will approach the apex court against the High Court order. The government’s decision came hours after a division bench of the High Court directed the CBI to register an FIR in the case and begin investigation immediately. Considering the sensitivity of the case, the court has stressed the need to ensure fairness and transparency in the investigation.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ashwini Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor pronounced its verdict on the case in the court on Saturday morning. The court directed the CBI to register an FIR and proceed with the investigation immediately. Also, the report related to the progress of the investigation and its results has been asked to be presented before the court within two months.
This matter is related to the public interest litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf. In the petition, serious allegations of involvement in corruption have been made against senior officials and other government employees of Punjab. It has been claimed by the petitioner that apart from transfers and postings of officers, a network of bribes was allegedly at work to obtain important posts in various departments.
Allegations have also been made in the petition of influencing the transfers and postings of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and police officers. Apart from this, people associated with construction business, land developers and other businessmen have been accused of allegedly taking illegal payments in exchange for getting tenders, permissions and licenses.
At the same time, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema cited the decision taken in the year 2020 as the reason behind the government’s decision to approach the Supreme Court. He said that in November 2020, the then Congress government had withdrawn the general consent given to the CBI for investigation in Punjab.
On this basis, Cheema said that the present government will challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court. Now the stand of the top court in this matter is considered important. While the way for CBI investigation is open after the High Court order, with the Punjab Government going to the Supreme Court, all eyes are on the further legal process in the case.