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SC orders probe panel in PM's security breach case stays all inquires

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has decided to set up a probe committee to inquire into the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Punjab while it stayed all parallel inquiries by the centre and the state government.

The apex court's bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said that the probe panel will be headed by one of its retired judges.

The top court was hearing the plea of a Delhi based organisation, Lawyers Voice, seeking a thorough investigation into the breach in PM's security in Punjab to ensure there is no such incident in the future.

While hearing the petition, the CJI noted that he was thinking on these lines that one retired Supreme Court judge will head the committee and the members would be Director General of Police of Chandigarh, Inspector General of the National Investigation Agency and the registrar general of the Punjab and Haryana High Court along with one more person who could be additional DGP (Security) of Punjab.

The court has also asked the registrar general of the Punjab and Haryana high court to immediately seize and secure all the records pertaining to the PM's visit. 

PM Modi's convoy was stuck on the flyover for several minutes near Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district on January 5, as protesting farmers blocked it from one side after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a rally. 

Referring to the centre issuing show cause notices to Punjab chief secretary and state police officers, the bench questioned the centre asking the solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta why was it done when SC was seized of the matter. 

"The centre's show cause notice is totally self-contradictory. You seek to enquire if there was a breach and then hold the state chief secretary and the DGP guilty. Who held them guilty, they deserve a fair inquiry," the bench noted.

SC Mehta replied by saying that the centre's probe was done under the Special Protection Group act and provisions of the 'blue book' as the security of the PM was paramount and the show cause notices were issued before the order of the court.to the SPG, the prime minister's security and the role of the local police.

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