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Synopsis

The Supreme Court on Thursday noted that the report of Top Court’s appointed committee inter alia found Punjab Police’s failure to discharge its duties during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab in January 2022.

A bench of the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Hima Kohli said, "The Committee has defined recommendations that need to be enforced for Prime Ministers’ tour and travel." It also added that the Blue Book needs to be upgraded. 

Furthermore, it was said that the court will now send the committee report to the Government.

The observations came after the Top Court read out some excerpts of the findings/ recommendations of the committee which looked into the security lapse of Prime Minister Modi’s convoy during his Punjab Visit. One of the recommendations the bench read out stated that the “blue book” has to be upgraded.

Currently, it is unclear whether the report will be made available to the public entirely or a redacted copy will be released, if at all.
The bench was hearing the petition filed by Lawyer's Voice seeking probe into the breach of the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that the local administration took part in the blockage and the security lapse.

Earlier, the Court had appointed Justice (Retired) Indu Malhotra as chairperson on the court-appointed committee to look into the Prime Minister’s security breach issue. The Committee shall also consist of the DG of Police (Chandigarh), Additional DGP (Punjab) along with the Registrar General (Punjab and Haryana High Court), and an NIA official.

“A judicially trained mind should look into the details,” the court had said.” "Cannot be a one-sided inquiry,” it added.

The plea had stated that "as per reliable reports in the print and the electronic media, and as per the Press Information Bureau report of Central Government, was clearly intentional and raises a serious question as to national security and the role played by the present political dispensation in the State of Punjab."

It further stated that the "situation wherein a high constitutional functionary is stranded on a flyover is an extremely high security threat considering the vulnerability and the degree of planning and protection required for the office of the Prime Minister."

It was alleged that the Chief Secretary, State of Punjab, and Director General of Police had given assurances to the Special Protection Group, that the route is clear, and it was found that the same was not true resulting in a precarious situation.

The plea had further alleged, "what was shocking and alarming on many levels was that local Police personnel on the spot were seen to be participating with the hooligans who jeopardised the security of the Prime Minister."

The plea had sought suspension of the Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab Anirudh Tiwari and Director General of Police Sidharth Chattopadyaya while directing the Central Government to conduct a departmental action against the same.

Case Title Lawyer's Voice Vs. State of Punjab and Ors.