IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 19086 of 2017 Ravinder Singh Dhull ...Petitioner Versus State of Haryana & Ors. …Respondents INDEX Sr. Particular Date Pages No. 1. Compliance report by way of 28.08.2017 1-37 affidavit of Nitin Kumar Yadav, Secretary to Government, Haryana, Home Department on behalf of State of Haryana, respondent No. 1. 2. Annexure R-1 (letter) 26.08.2017 38-41 3. Annexure R-2 (letter) 26.08.2017 42-43 4. Annexure R-3 (letter) 26.08.2017 44 Superintendent Home-IV Place: Chandigarh for Secretary to Government, Haryana, Date: 28.08.2017 Home Department. - 1 - IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 19086 of 2017 Ravinder Singh Dhull ...Petitioner Versus State of Haryana & Ors. …Respondents Compliance report by way of affidavit of Nitin Kumar Yadav, Secretary to Government, Haryana, Home Department, on behalf of State of Haryana, respondent No. 1. I, the above named deponent do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:- 1. That in compliance of the order dated 26.08.2017 passed by this Hon’ble Court, the requisite information has been sought from the concerned authorities and the same is given hereinafter for the kind perusal of this Hon’ble Court. 2. That Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh the Head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, Haryana was an accused in CBI case No.RC-5(S)2002/SIU- XV/Chd. u/S-376/506/509 IPC and other murder cases. The above case was fixed for hearing for pronouncement of judgment and he was required to appear in person on 25th August 2017 in CBI Court at Panchkula. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has earlier been appearing in all cases in Court on dates fixed through Video Conferencing. Gurmeet Ram Rahim has mass following in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and many parts of India and the followers of Dera are highly committed to him. Since, he had to attend the hearing of case to hear the verdict, lot of his followers were - 2 - expected to gather at Panchkula, where the verdict was to be pronounced. Elaborate security arrangements were made in all the districts of Haryana especially Panchkula, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, Ambala and Kurukshetra which are strong hold belt of Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s followers. 3. That the State Government has been constantly monitoring the situation and has taken all necessary steps to maintain the Law and Order in the State. Apprehending, the threat to the Law & Order situation the State Government took up the matter with the Government of India for providing/deployment of RAF/CRPF/CAPF from time to time. A meeting was also held with Union Home Secretary and other officers in Delhi on 16.08.2017 to bring the severity of problem to their notice and demand CAPF for maintaining Law and Order in the State. The State Government vide letter dated 17.08.2017 demanded for 150 coys of RAF/CRPF from the Central Government in view of expected verdict. In response thereto, the Central Government provided 35 coys of CAPF. 4. That meanwhile on 21.08.2017, a meeting though Video Conference was held under the Chairmanship of Home Secretary and Senior Police Officers to review the security arrangement. The meeting was attended by the all Divisional Commissioners, Range IGs, Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other concerned officers and detailed directions were issued. 5. That the matter was taken up by the State Government vide D.O. dated 21.08.2017 explaining the grave and serious Law & Order - 3 - situation with the request to make available more 115 coys to the State. The matter was again taken up with the Central Government vide communication dated 22.08.2017. The State Government vide letter dated 24.08.2017 again taken up the matter with the Government of India to provide 200 coys of RAF/CRPF with effect from 24.08.2017 to 04.09.2017. Out of 150 Coys of CAPF demanded, only 53 Coys were allotted till 24.08.2017, out of these 27 Coys and 10 Coys were allotted in Panchkula and Sirsa respectively. It was after constant pursuance by the State Government and the intervention of this Hon’ble High Court on 24th August 2017, that additional 40 Coys of CAPF were allotted to Haryana. However, out of 93 CAPF Coys allotted to Haryana only 83 Coys of CAPF could reach to the allotted destinations till morning of 25th August 2017, which were deployed in various districts on the basis of sensitivity. 6. That the matter was regularly reviewed at high level meetings and directions were issued for preparation of action plans to deal with all possible eventualities that may arise as a result of appearance/non-appearance and conviction/acquittal of the accused. Immediately upon the order of conviction, the convict was flown to Rohtak and the State Government immediately took up the matter with Railway authorities for temporary suspension of various trains to Rohtak. Infact, Ministry of Railways had cancelled the trains by 6:00 PM on 25.08.2017 only. The State Government again took up the matter with Government of India demanding 100 additional coys of CAPF vide letter dated 26.08.2017 so as to defuse the situation. - 4 - 7. That elaborate security arrangements were made especially in Panchkula and Sirsa. It is pertinent to mention here that Sirsa is the base of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh where Dera Sacha Sauda is situated while in Panchkula, the CBI court holding the trial is located. In Commissionerate of Police, Panchkula, the security arrangements for Law & Order was supervised by a DGP rank officer as overall Incharge assisted by two ADGsP, 3 IGsP, 12 SP/DCP and 40 Coys of State Police Force. Also, 52 Coys of CAPF were also deployed by 25.08.2017. The SWAT team of Haryana Police, bomb Disposal and Detection Team, Anti-Sabotage Team and Mounted Police was also deployed in Panchkula. Similarly, elaborate arrangements were made at Sirsa where ADGP rank officer was deputed for maintaining Law & Order and security arrangements, assisted by IGP rank officer and SsP. The SWAT TEAM, Bomb disposal and detection team, anti-sabotage team and mounted police was also deployed in Sirsa. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had to attend the hearing and he was given Z+ security by the State Level Review Committee of State Government on 06.06.2007. Therefore, proper security arrangements on the route were made from Sirsa to Panchkula. During his movement from Sirsa to Panchkula, 2 IGP rank officers were deputed, who were assisted by a SP rank officer. Further, in view of the Technical and Intelligence input, following steps were taken to ensure the law and order and public safety which are as under:- DGsP of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, and CP Delhi were requested on 18.08.2017 for stopping Dera Premis coming towards Panchkula - 5 - DGsP of Punjab & UT were requested on 24.08.2017 to make adequate security arrangements, keeping in view the hearing of this case. Orders were issued for making security arrangements by all SsP of Haryana State for ensuring unhindered movement of the accused Convict and to avoid any untoward incident during his journey from Sirsa to Panchkula Court. Cancellation of trains coming to Chandigarh from various parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi was got done from Government of India. Necessary arrangements made for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his transportation after the verdict, both in the event of his acquittal or conviction in the case Establishing of Temporary Jails – The State Government had declared Chaudhary Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-3 Panchkula and Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium, Sirsa as Temporary Jails to meet with any number of arrest in event of any law and order situation. Suspension of bus services to Panchkula. Appointment of 56 Duty Magistrates for Law & Order duties in Panchkula Surveillance by Drone cameras. Arrangements of Fire Brigades, Ambulances and liaison with Hospitals. - 6 - Extensive security arrangements for the Judicial complex, Panchkula and adjoining area. Two IGPs rank officer were deputed for the same. Setting up of State level Riot Control Room at PHQ, Panchkula. Necessary security arrangements for protection of the Presiding Officer, CBI Court, Panchkula, prosecution witnesses, Public Prosecutors of CBI with immediate effect and standing counsel for CBI in High Court. Request was made to the Army Authorities for keeping the force on standby to meet any eventuality. Holding Flag Marches of State Police and CAPF in Panchkula. Video Conference of all DC/SsP by the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Director General of Police of the State, addressing all field officers to take all effective and major steps for maintenance of peace and Law & Order. In addition to this, DGP(HR) addressed all CsP/SsP to do the needful to ensure preparedness for maintenance of Law & Order in their respective jurisdiction. Meetings of Crisis Management Group under the Chairmanship of CS Haryana were done followed by two meetings with Senior Punjab Police Officers. 8. That during this period a CWP No.19086 of 2017 titled as Ravinder Singh Dhull Vs. State of Haryana was listed in this Hon’ble Court on 24.08.2017 for hearing in forenoon session - 7 - when this Hon’ble Court directed that Central Government shall provide adequate security and force to the State Government for maintaining peace and Law & Order in Panchkula and its surrounding areas forthwith. The Central Government was directed to make its own assessment in this regard.