Barely 48 hours before the parliamentary polls, actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol on Friday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for deployment of paramilitary forces for meeting any eventuality.
But his plea was disposed of by a Division Bench of the High Court after the Election Commission of India claimed action had already been taken in the matter.
Taking on record the ECI’s statement through its counsel Namit Kumar, the Bench of Justice Daya Chaudhary and Justice Sudhir Mittal asserted: “In view of the action taken by the respondents, no further direction is required to be issued in this petition and the present petition is disposed of accordingly.”
Sunny Deol aka Ajay Singh Deol had through his counsel Pankaj Jain sought directions to the ECI and another respondent to declare Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency as super sensitive “being prone to violence”.
Describing Gurdaspur as a border constituency, Jain contended that it had witnessed poll violence during the panchayat polls conducted in December last year.
He added that it was a prestigious constituency as the petitioner was a popular figure contesting elections against the state president of the Indian National Congress.
The Bench was also told that a detailed representation through mail was sent on May 14 but action was not taken.
Taking a note of his averments, the Bench issued notice of motion to the ECI and the other respondent for post lunch session. On asking of the court, Namit Kumar and Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain accepted the notice.
Appearing before the Bench, Kumar submitted that representation sent by the petitioner was already under active consideration.
During hearing of the case, a written communication received by the counsel was placed before the Bench.
“It clearly shows that action on the representation of the petitioner has already been taken,” the Bench observed. Among other things, it said 111 out of 1826 booths were categorised as critical. Another 467 booth were shown as vulnerable.
Regarding the allotment of Central Armed Paramilitary Force, it said 24 companies had been allotted for the parliamentary constituency. Apparently satisfied with the measures, the Bench disposed of the plea.