SC disposes of plea against former SAD chief

The Supreme Court has disposed of a petition filed against Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia for allegedly making “derogatory" remarks against the commission that had probed the 2015 desecration cases during the party’s regime in Punjab.

The court order came on April 2 after both leaders expressed remorse over their statement.

The petition was filed by retired Justice Ranjit Singh, who headed the one-man inquiry panel.

Ranjit Singh had approached the apex court challenging a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court order dismissing his complaint accusing Badal and Majithia of bringing him and his commission to disrepute.

Senior counsel Puneet Bali told the Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal that the SAD leaders had decided to apologise.

Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, who represented Justice Singh, contested the submission pointing out that their affidavit only said “hurt, if any, we regret that”.

The SAD leaders, however, said they were “in complete disagreement with the findings of the reports submitted on 30.06.2018 and 16.08.2018 to the Government of Punjab by the one-man inquiry commission”.

Noting that the statement had been withdrawn, the Bench chose to dispose of the petition.

“Pursuant to the previous order passed on 19.11.2024, an affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents. Though, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant expresses reservation about the contents of the affidavit, however, on a perusal of the same, it is evident that the statement made stands withdrawn. In view of the above, the appeal stands disposed of,” the Bench said.

The top court had in January 2020 issued notices to Badal and Majithia on the petition.

Justice Singh alleged that the two SAD leaders spoke about the commission in “a very derogatory, defamatory and disrespectful manner”, bringing the commission and its chairman to disrepute, which is an offence under 10A of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

According to Section 10A (1) of the Act, “If any person, by words either spoken or intended to be read, makes or publishes any statement or does any other act, which is calculated to bring the commission or any member thereof into disrepute, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.”

Punjab