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Hearing a plea filed by one Advocate Tejinder Singh, who alleged that his life is in danger because he highlighted "open corruption" in the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Ludhiana, the Punjab High Court has directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to examine his representation and take appropriate action.

Tejinder Singh, an editor and advocate, had come knocking on the High Court’s doors averring that,  as he raises his voice on public issues concerning corruption in government departments and societies, he is receiving threats from bad elements.

Upon considering the background of the matter, the bench of Justice Manoj Bajaj issued directions to the DGP to examine the representation, without commenting on the merits of the case.

The petitioner had stated that being an editor, he used to raise his voice on public issues and also run campaigns against corruption in government departments, for which he had to visit different parts of the state.

He alleged that on one such occasion, while visiting Ludhiana and campaigning there on the Right to Information and corruption, he was approached by several persons complaining of corruption in the RTO Office, Ludhiana.

He submitted that he was told by those persons that no official would do official work without taking bribe in the said department and when in pursuance of this information, he visited the concerned RTO office, he found that "there was open corruption going on in the department through the agents appointed by the officials especially by a Clerk on deputation."

The petitioner stated that at first, he raised this issue before the higher authorities and later on, got news about the same published in print media. He contended that since then, he has been receiving threats from bad elements and is being pressurized to compromise the matter by the mentioned clerk.

He informed the court that in this regard he had already submitted a representation to the DGP, Punjab, Chandigarh in February 2020 for providing him protection, but till date no action had been taken and therefore he had come before the court seeking issuance of necessary directions.

Upon the petitioner’s submission that at this stage, he would be satisfied, if a direction is issued to the respondent DGP, addressing the petitioner’s limited prayer, the High Court issued the direction. 

Cause Title: Tejinder Singh v. State of Punjab and others