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SAD constitution forgery: Punjab court summons ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal

ByGagandeep Jassowal
Oct 29, 2021 11:19 AM IST

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema have already got bail from a Hoshiarpur court in the case

Hoshiarpur additional chief judicial magistrate Rupinder Singh has summoned former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in a case of alleged forgery of the constitution of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has been summoned by a Hoshiarpur court on November 28 in connection with the Shiromani Akali Dal constitution forgery case. (HT file photo)
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has been summoned by a Hoshiarpur court on November 28 in connection with the Shiromani Akali Dal constitution forgery case. (HT file photo)

SAD patriarch Badal was on Thursday asked to appear before the court on November 28. His son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the SAD president, and party spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema have already got bail in the case.

Also read: HC seeks Punjab’s response over ‘illegal’ takeover of Patti gurdwara

According to a directive of November 4, 2019, on the plea of complainant Balwant Singh Khera, Badal, Sukhbir and Cheema were to be summoned. Sukhbir and Cheema have already appeared. “Let accused Parkash Singh Badal be summoned on November 28,” the court order concluded.

Complainant cites SAD’s ‘panthic’ activities

Khera, a social activist, had complained that the SAD possessed two constitutions – one that it had submitted with the Gurdwara Election Commission and the other with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek recognition as a political outfit. He alleged that the SAD had given a false undertaking to the ECI that it had amended its constitution to incorporate the principles of socialism and secularism, whereas it continued its activities as a ‘panthic’ party and openly participated in gurdwara elections.

Sufficient evidence against Badals: HC

On August 27, the Punjab and Haryana high court disposed of a petition by the SAD against the proceedings of the Hoshiarpur court, saying there was sufficient evidence before the judicial magistrate to summon Badal, Sukhbir and Cheema on their undertakings regarding the party’s constitution.

“Sufficient material has come on record wherein contrary stands have been taken regarding the constitution of the political party and whether it has adopted the principles of secularism or is still a religious party. It has also come on record that the SAD has been contesting the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections,” the high court bench of justice GS Sandhawalia observed.

The SAD leaders had approached the high court in 2019, seeking a stay on the trial after the Hoshiarpur additional chief judicial magistrate summoned them in the case. The high court stayed the trial.

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