"Shocking": Supreme Court On High Court Order On Punjab Ex Top Cop

Sumedh Singh Saini case: The Supreme Court today told the high court's Chief Justice to either hear the matter himself or assign it to another bench for disposal within two weeks

Former Punjab Police chief getting a blanket protection from arrest in any case against him in future has been termed as "shocking" by the Supreme Court.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had also given blanket protection from pending cases to former Punjab top cop Sumedh Singh Saini, who is facing charges of extrajudicial killings in the early 90s. He also faces charges linked to corruption, kidnapping and firing at protesters.

The Supreme Court today told the high court's Chief Justice to either hear the matter himself or assign it to another bench for disposal within two weeks.

The high court in its order had said the former Punjab Director General of Police, or DGP, cannot also be arrested in cases that are likely to be filed against him, an order that the Supreme Court said it found "shocking".