Even as the people’s commission of inquiry headed by Justice Markandey Katju (retd) has already met with over three dozen eyewitnesses of police firing at Behbal Kalan village in Faridkot and likely to release his inquiry report within two weeks, the government-appointed commission seems to be still lugging along.
The government had appointed its probe panel headed by Justice Zora Singh on October 16 last year which promised to wind up the probe in two months.
However, this commission began its ground work only on December 17, and is still in the process of summoning and examining the witnesses of the incident that had sparked protests across the state.
Talking to The Tribune, Justice Zora Singh (retd) said for almost a month now, they had issued summons and had been examining witnesses. On every hearing, five witnesses were being examined, he said.
He, however, admitted that only 70 percent of those who had been summoned appeared before the panel.
The Commission became functional over a month after it was notified and began its ground work only on December 17, two months after its appointment.
The commission had visited Burj Jawaharsingh Wala, Bargari, Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura town villages. Though some people had come forward to give their statements, they later turned away as the commission required them to give their statements supported by an affidavit. Many others who did give their statements and affidavits are now not coming forward for the hearings of the commission. “We are doing our duty to the best of our abilities, but we cannot force people to come and give statements,” said Justice Zora Singh.
On the other hand, Justice Katju, who returned to Chandigarh today after a fact-finding mission on the invitation of Sikhs for Human Rights, Punjab Human Rights Organisation and Lawyers for Human Rights International, has met and recorded statements of over 40 witnesses.
This stark contrast in the functioning and response to the two commissions of inquiry once again prove that the commissions set up by government are nothing more than a strategy to soothe frayed tempers after every flare-up in the state.
