New Delhi: The Punjab government on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order directing a CBI investigation into allegations of corruption involving cash-for-transfer and posting arrangements in the Punjab chief minister’s office.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh appeared for the Punjab government and sought an urgent listing of the matter before the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant initially said the matter could not be taken up on Tuesday. When Singh requested that it be listed on Wednesday, the CJI said the court would examine the list of cases and try to take it up the following day, or the day after.
Singh argued that the case raised an issue concerning the federal structure and referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary while seeking urgent consideration.
The development comes a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a CBI probe into the allegations. The High Court, while hearing the matter on October 5, directed registration of an FIR against the chief minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghumman, and sought an investigation report within two months.
The Punjab government has now challenged that direction before the Supreme Court. The apex court is expected to consider the state’s request for urgent listing.
