Congress Leaders Meet Punjab Governor Over Alleged Illegal Demolition of MLA's Property
A high-level delegation of Congress leaders met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday, raising serious allegations regarding the illegal demolition of private property belonging to Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The delegation demanded strict legal action against police and civil administration officers involved in the incident.
Delegation Composition and Allegations
The delegation comprised prominent Congress figures including Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, MLA and former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, deputy leader of opposition Aruna Chaudhary, and former speaker Rana K P Singh. In their formal representation to the governor, the leaders presented a detailed account of what they described as a blatant violation of legal procedures.
The delegation alleged that a boundary wall of Khaira's private property located at Ramgarh village in Kapurthala district was demolished without following due process. They characterized this action as illegal and in direct violation of fundamental principles of natural justice.
Political Context and Previous Legal Issues
The Congress leaders provided context to their allegations, stating that since the formation of the present Aam Aadmi Party government in March 2022, Khaira has been actively opposing what they termed as anti-people and anti-Punjab policies. This opposition has occurred both inside and outside the Punjab legislative assembly.
The delegation claimed this political opposition led to the registration of five First Information Reports against Khaira and his supporters over the past four years, which they described as false and frivolous. They further highlighted Khaira's previous legal troubles, noting he was earlier arrested in a nine-year-old Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act case where the Supreme Court eventually quashed his summoning order.
According to the representation, when Khaira was to be granted regular bail in that case, he was arrested again from Nabha jail. The NDPS case was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court on April 10, 2024.
Details of the Demolition Incident
The delegation provided specific details about the demolition that occurred on February 23. They alleged that a contingent of 400-500 police personnel, accompanied by senior officers including Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora, Bholath DSP Karnail Singh, Bholath SHO Ranjit Singh, and Nadala BDPO Kulwinder Singh Randhawa, reached Khaira's ancestral house at 8am.
Officials claimed they were demolishing what they described as illegal structures raised on public property. However, the Congress leaders presented a different narrative:
- Documents of ownership were shown to officers at the spot
- No notice was served on Khaira prior to the demolition
- No opportunity for a personal hearing was provided
- Khaira was present at the site and requested to see any legal notice, but no such document was produced
- A portion of the boundary wall was demolished using a JCB machine
- The entire incident was live-streamed on social media platforms
Questionable Background of Officials Involved
The memorandum raised serious concerns about the officials involved in the demolition operation. Specifically, it highlighted that BDPO Kulwinder Singh Randhawa, who was tasked with carrying out the demolition, is named in two FIRs:
- FIR No 37 dated August 9, 2024, at vigilance bureau police station in Patiala under Sections 409 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
- He was suspended in another case involving alleged misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs 41 lakh
Historical Context and Legal Violations
The Congress leaders provided historical context to their claims, stating that Khaira's ancestral house falls within the lal dora of Ramgarh and his family had been in continuous possession of the land for over 200 years.
The delegation argued that the demolition action violated multiple legal principles and guidelines:
- Principles of natural justice
- Recent Supreme Court guidelines regarding demolition actions, which prescribe a notice period of 15 days followed by another 15 days to enable affected parties to seek legal remedies
- Provisions of the Punjab Common Lands Act, 1961
Demands and Conclusion
Describing the demolition as high-handed and conducted without due process, the Congress delegation made specific demands to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria:
They urged the governor to ensure strict legal action against the concerned officers in accordance with the Supreme Court's judgment, and sought compensation for the alleged loss of reputation and mental agony suffered by Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
The meeting represents a significant escalation in the ongoing political tensions between the Congress party and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, with property rights, legal procedures, and political opposition becoming central points of contention.
