CHANDIGARH: The senior sub judge, Amritsar, Mr. Tara Singh issued notice to many present and former Union Ministers, Army Generals and high officials to appear in the court on June 3rd. In the suit jointly filed by S.G.P.C. and its former president Gurcharan Singh Tohra for recovery of Rupees one thousand crores as damages for the loss caused to the property of the Golden Temple Complex and other Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab during operation Blue Star, in June, 1984. In the original suit which was filed on August, 14th last year. Ministry of defense and Ministry of Home Affairs of Indian Government and the Punjab Government were made as defendants, Later on an application was filed to include 34 others as a party to the suit. The sub-judge rejected the plea of the Government Counsel who appeared on behalf of the Union Government and three others that these persons could not be made party to the suit for the act done by the Army and police as part of their official duty. Among those who have been sent notice include former Union Home Minister, Mr. P.C. Sethi, Home Minister of State Union Home, Minister, Mr. Narsimah Rao; Mr. Jagan Nath Kaushal former Law Minister; Mr. H.K.L. Bhagat, Mr. N.D. Tewri, Mr. Gani Khan Chawdhri, Mr. R. Venkat Raman, Vice-President, Mr. Shiv Shankar, Mr. Buta Singh, Rao Birindra Singh, Mr. SB. Chawan, Mr. Varinder Patel, Mr. H.N. Mishra, Mr. RN, Mishra, Mr. V.N. Gadgil, Mr. Kalp Nath Rai, and Commander in Chief Mr. K. Sunderji, General RSS. Dayal and General K.S. Brar, among others who figured in the list are Former Director General Police, Punjab, Mr. Shiv Sarup, former Director General of C.R.P.F, Mr. BK. Tripathi. Former Director General of B.S.F. and former Deputy Commissioner of ‘Amritsar, former S.S.P. of Amritsar and the Former Advisers to the Punjab Governor during the President’s rule, The suit besides seeking damages seeks unqualified (Cont. on Page 12, Col. 5) apology from the Sikh Sangat for their unwarranted, unprovoked, unannounced wanton and deliberate action. The Government in reply to the suit submitted that union of India acted in the discharge of its constitutional duty and there was no cause of action for the plaintiff against the defendant. The former S.G.P.C. President Mr. Tohra had personally appeared before the court at the time of filing it on August 14 last year.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 25, 1986