Liberhan panel to place papers before HC in Kalyan Singh case

Liberhan panel to place papers before HC in Kalyan Singh case
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Delhi High Court today gave two weeks' time to the Liberhan Commission, probing the events leading to the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya, to place before it relevant documents regarding the panel's summoning of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh as witness.

Justice Manmohan Sarin, who was hearing a petition by Singh, seeking quashing of the bailable warrant issued against him by the panel after his failure to appear before it, said the Commission could file an affidavit by September 20, giving details about the circumstances under which the warrant was issued.

Singh had challenged his summoning by the Commission on the ground that the High Court earlier had relieved a person from the obligation of filing an affidavit before an inquiry ommission if it had issued him notice under Section 8B of the the Commission of Inquiries Act.

Singh's counsel K Krishnamani told the court that his client was likely to be "prejudiced" as he was facing trial in the case in Uttar Pradesh.

Opposing Singh's petition, Solicitor General Harish Salve said the grounds in the writ were giving an indication that the Commission was transgressing upon the High Court's earlier order. But there was no merit in the contentions, he said.

As the court asked whether Singh would appear before the panel on September four, the next date of its proceedings, Commission's counsel Anupam Gupta said, "It (Commission) will not insist upon his presence on that day."