Time bound magisterial inquiry in Col Bath’s assault case goes in limbo
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 11,2025
The magisterial inquiry marked by Punjab home secretary in Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath’s assault case has gone in limbo.
After the completion of three weeks, when contacted the inquiry officer Paramvir Singh, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Patiala he said “I had initiated the inquiry. But, since the high court has given the police inquiry to the Chandigarh Police, I requested the state government to clarify on magisterial inquiry being conducted by me. I had requested to issue clarification, should I continue with my probe or not. Till now no response is given by the home department .”
The home secretary, Punjab on March 20,2025 had marked a magistrate inquiry against the alleged police officials under Punjab Police Rules 16.38 (Punjab Police Rule 16.38 outlines the procedure for investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses committed by police officers, emphasizing the role of the District Magistrate in determining the investigation’s conduct and the potential for departmental or judicial proceedings) in Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath’s assault case and appointed Paramvir Singh, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Patiala as the inquiry officer.
The family of Col. Pushpinder Singh Bath had expressed their dissatisfaction with the police department probe. After that the home secretary had ordered a magisterial probe for a fair and impartial probe .As per the orders, the inquiry officer has to complete the inquiry within three weeks.
But, later the aggrieved Bath family approached the high court for a CBI or independent agency inquiry. The Punjab and Haryana High Court handed over the inquiry to Chandigarh Police and asked the inquiry officer to submit the report in four months.
Earlier today, the additional district and sessions judge Patiala Surinder Pal Kaur rejected the interim anticipatory bail of one of the accused police inspector Roonie Singh.
