Thursday, 28 September 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has issued notices to the Home secretary, director general of police IG (Security), Haridwar SSP and DM along with former Khanpur MLA Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, Devyani Singh, Narendra Singh and Divya Pratap Singh, directing them to respond in four weeks. The division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Rakesh Thapliyal issued this direction while hearing a public interest litigation challenging the provision of five security guards to the former MLA’s family and permission to use a private car as a pilot with a hooter granted by the State government. The matter will be taken up for hearing next on December 8.
Haridwar resident Imran had filed the PIL stating that Singh and three of his family members have been provided five government security guards in violation of rules. The former MLA uses one of his private cars as a pilot car with a hooter and misuses his security when he goes outside his home, the petitioner has contended. The petitioner has stated that since Singh does not face any threat, the gunners deployed for his security are being misused. In 2016, the HC had directed the State government to form a committee to ascertain who is provided security. This committee will inquire and then approve provision of security but the government has not followed this direction so far, the petitioner contended. Security is being provided on the basis of an application, which is a misuse of the government machinery. At present 610 gunners have been provided by the State government to 197 VIPs. The PIL has appealed to the court to direct an inquiry to ascertain on what basis these persons were provided security.
