The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday pulled up the Haryana government for seeking more time to “collect more facts” in the Murthal gangrape case. The counsel appearing for the Haryana government, however, admitted that rapes had taken place during the Jat quota agitation in February in Murthal. The court has also directed the government to produce the second part of the Prakash Singh Committee report on July 7, the next date of hearing. The Haryana government claimed before the court that it had got “fresh leads” into the alleged gangrape incidents.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said at this stage, it could not be said as to which way the investigation would lead to but there were some leads. Hence, the state be given more time which was granted. The court had sought the second part of the Prakash Singh Committee report into the matter which the government failed to produce today.
At least 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees destroyed during the 10-day Jat agitation in February over reservation in government jobs and education. The court categorically asserted that the Murthal rapes had undoubtedly taken place.
“There can be no doubt...even they (Haryana) are not denying it,” observed a division bench of justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill.