The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, particularly in connection with the recent violence during the Nainital Zila Panchayat polls. The court took note of the alleged kidnapping of five elected members and summoned the state’s Home Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to appear before it on Friday.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay voiced displeasure over the functioning of the police while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to incidents of violence during the panchayat elections. The bench remarked that the incidents, involving the use of arms and kattas (country-made pistols), had disturbed the public at large and required strict action.
The court also expressed concern over a video of its proceedings that surfaced online and directed that action be taken against those responsible for circulating it.
The matter reached the court through a petition filed by Zila Panchayat member Pushpa Negi, who alleged that five fellow members—Dikar Singh, Vipan Jantwal, Tarun Kumar Sharma, Pramod Singh, and Deep Singh Bisht—were kidnapped on August 14 during the panchayat elections.
Negi accused the Nainital police administration of negligence and failing to act promptly against the alleged kidnappers. Taking cognisance of the allegations, the court initiated suo motu proceedings in the matter.
The bench has fixed August 22 as the next date of hearing and directed both the Home Secretary and the DGP to personally appear before the court to explain the steps being taken to address the situation.
