HC seeks category-wise list of proclaimed offenders

Chandigarh, Sep 24 (UNI) The state governments of Punjab and Haryana as also the union territory of Chandigarh have blamed the non-availability of photographs of the proclaimed offenders (POs), bail jumpers and the lack of accurate latest addresses of sureties in the case of bail jumpers, as the main reasons for their failure to nab these law breakers.

This was submitted before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover during the resumed hearing on the PIL of advocate H C Arore vide which he has sought to know how the authorities concerned of these areas proposed to deal with the issue of such a large number POs and bail jumpers.

The law officers concerned conceded these shortcomings in the strategy to catch the culprits at large.

At one stage, the bench indicated its intention to call for the personal appearance of the police chiefs concerned unless the authorities showed results.

Before adjourning further hearing to January 17 and confining its instructions to the issue of photographs of POs, the bench directed the respondent states of Punjab and Haryana and the UT of Chandigarh to submit category-wise list of the POS.

UNI