Supreme Court adjourns plea by Advocate allegedly harassed by Rajasthan Police for raising voice against them

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned a plea filed by an Advocate alleging harassment by Rajasthan Police for raising his voice against them.

A bench of Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia adjourned the matter allowing the lawyer time to consider whether he should approach an appropriate forum or pursue the litigation before the Supreme Court.

It has been alleged that the Advocate was arrested from the premises of the Rajasthan High Court. Thereafter, multiple FIRs were registered against the Advocate and al investigation in a 10-year-old matter was also re-opened wherein the High Court had already closed the matter.

The plea filed by Advocate Goverdhan Singh had submitted that the police made out a plan to keep him only in police custody, for raising his voice against the Police.

Singh had further alleged that during his police custody a parade was conducted on road along with him by the I.O’s with the police force in the localities where the petitioner is residing Jaipur and Bikaner only, to defame him and degrade his image as an advocate in public only on the directions by the Government and top officials of Rajasthan Police. 

In addition to this, it was further submitted that the National Human Rights Commission after perusal of the report dated March 17, 2020 filed by the Inspector General of Police Crime Branch, Rajasthan had issued a Notice under Section 18 of the Prevention of Human Right Act to the Government of Rajasthan through its Chief Secretary.

The Government was asked to “Show Cause” within six weeks why an amount of RS. 1,00,000 of relief may not be recommended to be paid to the petitioner for violation of his human right by the public servant. 

Notice was also sent to the DGP, Rajasthan calling upon him to submit the details of action taken against the delinquent police personnel in accordance with service rules, the plea added.

However, even after the direction of NHRC, the police is continuously harassing the Advocate, his family members, and office associates.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the Advocate.

Case Title: Goverdhan Singh vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.