Probe genuineness of red card holders claiming to be 1984 riots victims: HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered a fresh investigation into allegations that 578 red card holders, who claim to be victims of the 1984 Sikh riots, in Ludhiana were not genuine.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered a fresh investigation into allegations that 578 red card holders, who claim to be victims of the 1984 Sikh riots, in Ludhiana were not genuine.

The high court also termed the Punjab government's inquiry into the allegations as "eyewash".

The directions from the division bench comprising acting chief justice Jasbir Singh and justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came on a public interest litigation filed (PIL) by the director of Sikh Danga Peerat Welfare Committee, Ludhiana.

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During the resumed hearing of the case, the state counsel apprised the court that the authorities concerned had carried out the investigation and had found the red cards beneficiaries genuine.
On being asked by the HC which city of the country were the red card beneficiaries victimised and whether there was any proof on record to show their genuineness, the state counsel did not have any reply.

The petitioner had submitted that there were 578 red card holders in Ludhiana who had been compensated Rs 2 lakh each by the government. The petitioner alleged that the committee - comprising Ludhiana sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and one Surjeet Singh, a self-proclaimed leader - authorised to verify such beneficiaries usurped half of the amount from the compensation granted.

After hearing the arguments, the bench was of the view that the inquiry by the state government was "misdirected" and did not look into the main points of detailed verification of riot victims. The bench directed the authorities to file its investigation report before August 30.