No further adjournments in Amarinder poll petition hearing

Chandigarh, Aug 30 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered that no further adjournments would be granted to respondents for cross-examination of the petition against the election of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh from Patiala constituency during the Punjab assembly elections in February 2002.

This was directed by Justice Satish Kumar Mittal during the resumed re-hearing of the petition filed by Harkirat Singh, a voter belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), on the orders of the Supreme Court. The apex court allowing the appeal of Harkirat Singh had remanded the petition back to the High Court which had dismissed it.

Punjab advocate general Rajinder Singh Cheema had prayed for a four-week adjournment saying that the CD pertaining to petitioner's claimed conversation with Bharat Inder Singh Chahal the media advisor to the chief minister, produced on the last date of the hearing was not properly ''audible''.

The petitioner was present in the court for cross examination proceedings, which have now been adjourned to September 13.

The adjournment was opposed strongly by petitioner's counsel arguing that the respondent merely wanted to delay proceedings as much as possible on one or the other ground as next general elections to the Punjab assembly were approaching early next year.

Capt Amarinder Singh has been accused of resorting to corrupt practices to promote his poll prospects including utilising the services of government employees like his present media advisor B I S Chahal who was then a joint director in the state Public Relations department.

UNI XC PS PK DB938