Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has strongly criticised the Punjab Government over a five-year delay in initiating criminal proceedings in the post-matric scholarship scam case.
A bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu observed that the state government had deliberately misinterpreted the court’s interim orders to delay action against the accused.
While the court accepted the unconditional apology tendered by Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, it completely rejected the explanation offered by the government.
The bench clarified that the interim orders passed in December 2021 were only meant to stay recovery proceedings and did not bar criminal investigation or registration of FIRs.
‘FIR should have been registered immediately’
Appearing through video conferencing, the Chief Secretary argued that the government feared contempt proceedings if FIRs were registered during the pendency of the matter.
Reacting sharply, the bench said that once serious offences had come to light in 2020 itself, an FIR should have been registered immediately.
Calling the situation in Punjab “highly unusual”, the court remarked that police in the state appear reluctant to act unless there is direct pressure from the judiciary.
ED already probing Rs 500 crore scam
In another significant development, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain informed the court that the Enforcement Directorate is already investigating the alleged scholarship scam involving nearly Rs 500 crore.
The court has now directed the Punjab Chief Secretary to hold a meeting with the Director General of Police and ensure that the Home Department issues fresh guidelines to prevent such delays in future criminal investigations.
