Official witnesses don't depose, High court summons Punjab home secretary, DGP

CHANDIGARH: Annoyed over the non-appearance of official witnesses before the trial court for recording of evidence in drug cases despite directions passed by the high court on different occasions, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday directed the home secretary and DGP Punjab to appear in person before the court at 10 am on Thursday.

While summoning the top officials, the HC observed that this has become a regular feature in Punjab that prosecution witnesses, who are mostly official witnesses in cases registered under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, have not been appearing during trial to get their evidence recorded, leading to delay in trials.

"On a number of occasions in the past, this court has directed the presence of SSPs of various districts, who repeatedly assured this court that in future trial would not be delayed due to non-appearance of the prosecution witnesses...," observed the HC.

Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul of the HC has passed these orders while hearing a plea filed by Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, seeking bail in a drug case registered under the NDPS Act in September 2020 at police station Lambi in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

He was allegedly found in possession of 1000 tablets of Clavidol-100 SR, Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets-100 mg and 500 tablets of Etolam 0.5 and Etizolam tablets 0.5 mg.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that a false case has registered against the petitioner who has now been in custody since September 1, 2020.

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