/2022 INSC 0032/
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) No. 13 OF 2022
       
LAWYERS VOICE     …..PETITIONER(S)
                                                             VERSUS
THE STATE OF PUNJAB & OTHERS …...RESPONDENT(S)
ORDER
1.     The   present   Writ   Petition   arises   out   of   the   incident   dated
5.01.2022   wherein   on   a   visit   to   Hussainiwala,   District
Firozpur, State of Punjab the convoy of the Prime Minister was
stuck on a flyover for around 20 minutes. 
2.    Petitioner, an NGO which purports to work for advocates across
the   country   and   takes   up   causes   that   are   in   public   interest,
therefore,   seeks   that   this   Court   take   cognizance   of   the   above
incident and has prayed for the following directions:
“(a) Take   cognizance   of   the   serious   and   deliberate
lapse   on   part   of   the   Respondent   Nos.   1,2   ad   3
concerning the security and the movement of the Prime
Minister of the country; and
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(b) Direct   the   learned   District   Judge,   Bhatinda,   to
collect   all   official   documents   and   materials   from   all
possible   sources   pertaining   to   the   movements   and
deployment   of   Punjab   Police   in   connection   with   the
visit   at   the   earliest   and   produce   the   same   before   this
Hon’ble Court; and 
(c) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ, order
or   direction   fixing   responsibility   of   the   Respondent
No.   2   and   Respondent   No.   3   and   place   them   under
suspension and further direct the Respondent No. 4 to
initiate departmental action against the same;
(d) Please   to   issue   any   other   writ   or   directions(s)   or
orders(s) as the Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper
in view of the facts and circumstances of the case and
in the interest of justice.”
3.     Petitioner   contends   that   the   incident   constitutes   a   very   grave
security   breach   that   could   have   had   significant   repercussions
as it impacts the safety of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. 
4.     Given   the   seriousness   of   the   subject   matter,   and   the   need   to
ensure   a   thorough   investigation   into   the   alleged   lapses   by   the
security apparatus, we took up the matter on the 07 th
 January,
2022 when we   heard Mr. Maninder Singh, Senior Advocate on
behalf of the petitioner and Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor
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General   on   behalf   of   Union   of   India   and   Mr.   D.S.   Patwalia,
learned Advocate General for the State of Punjab.   This Court,
thus, passed the following order:
“1.  Heard   learned  senior  counsel  Mr.  Maninder  Singh
on   behalf   of   the   Petitioner,   the   learned   Solicitor
General, Mr. Tushar Mehta, and the learned Advocate
General for the State of Punjab, Mr. D.S. Patwalia.
2.   Taking   into   consideration   the   arguments   advanced
by the parties with respect to the issues relating to the
security   of   WP(C)No.13/2022   the   Hon’ble   Prime
Minister   and   other   related   issues   raised   by   them,   we
deem   it   appropriate   for   the   time   being   to   direct   the
Registrar General, Punjab and Haryana High Court to
secure and preserve the records relating to the Hon’ble
Prime   Minister’s   scheduled   tour   of   Punjab   on   05th
January 2022.
3.   We   direct   the   Director   General   of   Police,   Union
Territory of Chandigarh and an officer of the National
Investigation   Agency,   not   below   the   rank   of   Inspector
General,   to   be   nominated   by   the   Director   General,
National   Investigation   Agency   to   assist   the   Registrar
General, Punjab and Haryana High Court to forthwith
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secure   and   seize   the   records   from   the   State   police   as
well as Central agencies.
4.   We   further   direct   the   State   Government   of   Punjab,
including   the   police   authorities,   the   Special   Protection
Group   and   any   other   Central/State   agencies   to
cooperate   and   to   provide   necessary   assistance   in
securing and seizing the records.
5.   We   direct   the   Registrar   General,   Punjab   and
Haryana   High   Court   to   keep   the   records   in   his   safe
custody for the time being.
6.   The   Registry   is   directed   to   forward   a   copy   of   this
order   electronically,   forthwith,   to   the   Registrar
General, Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Director
General   of   Police,   Union   Territory   of   Chandigarh,   the
Director   General,   National   Investigation   Agency   and
the Principal Secretary, Home, State of Punjab.
XXX XXX XXX”
5.    In   deference  to the above­stated order, a compliance report has
been   submitted   wherein   it   has   been   stated   that   the   relevant
records   have   been   received,   seized,   and   secured.   The   same
have been sealed and placed in the custody of the Punjab and
Haryana High Court. 
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6.     On   the   previous   date   of   hearing,   it   was   also   brought   to   our
notice that the State of Punjab has constituted a Committee to
carry   out   a   thorough   probe   into   the   lapses   that   occurred
during   the   Firozpur   visit   of   the   Hon’ble   Prime   Minister.   The
Committee   comprised   of   a   Former   Judge   of   the   Punjab   and
Haryana High Court and Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and
Justice,   Government   of   Punjab.   It   was   urged   on   behalf   of
learned   Senior   Counsel   for   the   petitioner   that   since   lapses   in
the   breach   of   security   of   the   Hon’ble   Prime   Minister   are   being
seriously   attributed   to   the   authorities   of   the   State   of   Punjab,
the   constitution   of   an   Enquiry   Committee   by   the   State   was
nothing but an abortive attempt to become a Judge in its own
cause.
7.     The   State   of   Punjab,   on   the   other   hand,   has   placed   on   record
copies of   the   show cause notices issued by  the Government of
India,   Ministry   of   Home   Affairs,   Internal   Security­I   Division
dated January 06, 2022 to various functionaries of the State of
Punjab   including   its   Chief   Secretary   and   Director   General   of
Police. The show cause notices required the officers to respond
within   24   hours   as   to   why   disciplinary   action   under   the   All
India   Services   (Discipline   and   Appeal)   Rules,   1969   should   not
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be   initiated   against   them   for   their   “ omissions   and
commissions ”.   The   learned   Advocate   General   for   the   State   of
Punjab urged that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of
India has, in a way, already held the officers of Government of
Punjab   ‘guilty’   of   the   alleged   negligence   and/or   breach   of
security   of   the   Hon’ble   Prime   Minister.   He   maintained   that
none of the agencies of the State Government had committed a
dereliction   of   their   responsibility   for   the   security   and   safety   of
the   Hon’ble   Prime   Minister,   yet   there   is   a   smear   campaign   to
discredit   the   State   Government.   All   the   same,   the   learned
Advocate   General   for   the   State   fairly   offered   that   the   State   is
more   than   willing   to   have   an   independent   enquiry   of   the
matter.
8.     We   have   heard   learned   counsel   for   the   parties   at   considerable
length   and   studied   the   provisions   of   the   Special   Protection
Group   Act,   1988   (for   short,   “the   Act”)   along   with   the   relevant
contents of the Blue Book. The legislative scheme of the Act is
quite   comprehensive   with   respect   to   ensuring   proximate
security   of   the   Prime   Minister,   or   a   former   Prime   Minister,   or
their   family   members,   as   the   case   may   be.   The   Blue   Book
contains   an   unambiguous   and   detailed   procedure   to   be
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observed   by   the   State   Authorities   and   the   Special   Protection
Group   (for   short,   “SPG”)   to   ensure   full   safety   and   security   of
the   Prime   Minister   while   he   is   touring   a   State.   The   additional
object   is   to   avoid   any   human   error,   negligence   or   any   willful
omission or commission which may hamper and/or expose the
safety and security of the Executive Head of the nation while he
is   traveling  in   a   particular   State.  Any  lapse   in   this  regard   can
lead to devastating and serious consequences.
9.    It is not necessary for us to elucidate more on facts as the lapse
regarding   the   breach   of   security   of   the   Prime   Minister   during
his   visit   to   Firozpur   on   5 th
  January,   2022   is   not   seriously
disputed   by   either   party.   There   is,   however,   a   blame   game
between   the   State   and   Central   Government   as   to   who   is
responsible for  such  lapses. War  of  words  between  them  is  no
solution. It may rather impair the need of a robust mechanism
to respond at such a critical juncture.
10. We,   therefore,   find   merit   in   the   submission   of   Shri   Maninder
Singh,   learned   Senior   Counsel   for   the   petitioner   that   not   only
are   the   Officer(s)/Authority   responsible   for   the   above­stated
lapse liable to be   identified , but there is also a greater urgency
to evolve new measures that may ensure there is no recurrence
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of such lapses in the future. 
11. The learned Solicitor General appearing for the Union of India,
supported   the   submission   of   the   Petitioner   and   prayed   for   a
detailed independent enquiry. The learned Advocate General for
the State of Punjab also fairly expressed his willingness for an
independent enquiry ordered by this Court. 
12. Keeping the above submissions made by the parties in view, we
are   of   the   considered   opinion   that   these   questions   cannot   be
left   to   be   resolved   through   one­sided   enquiries.   A   judicially
trained   independent   mind,   duly   assisted   by   officers   who   are
well   acquainted   with   the   security   considerations   and   the
Registrar General of the High Court who has seized the record
pursuant   to   our   earlier   order,   would   be   best   placed   to
effectively   visit   all   issues   and   submit   a   comprehensive   report
for the  consideration  of this Court. 
13. We   therefore   deem   it   appropriate   to   appoint   an   Enquiry
Committee comprising the following:
i. Justice Indu Malhotra, a former Judge of the Supreme
Court of  India­  Chairperson ;
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ii. Director General or his nominee not below the rank of
Inspector  General   of   Police   of   National   Investigation
Agency­  Member ;
iii. Director   General   of   Police,   Union   Territory   of
Chandigarh­  Member ;
iv. Additional Director General of Police (Security), State of
Punjab­  Member ;
v. Registrar   General,   Punjab   and   Haryana   High   Court­
Member­cum­Coordinator .
14. The   following   are   the   Terms   of   Reference   for   the   Enquiry
Committee:
i. What   were   the   causes   for   the   security   breach   for   the
incident on 5 th
 January 2022?
ii. Who   are   responsible   for   such   a   breach,   and   to   what
extent?
iii. What   should   be   the   remedial   measures   or   safeguards
necessary for the security of the Hon’ble Prime Minister
or other Protectees? 
iv. Any suggestions or recommendations for improving the
safety   and   security   of   other   Constitutional
functionaries. 
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v. Any   other   incidental   issue   that   the   Committee   may
deem fit and proper.
15. The   Enquiry   Committee   is   requested   to   submit   its   report   at
the earliest.
16.     Let   the   entire   record   seized   pursuant   to   our   order   dated   7 th
January,   2022,   be   handed   over   to   the   Chairperson   of   the
Enquiry  Committee within three  days. The  Union  of  India and
State Government are directed to provide full assistance to the
Enquiry Committee for completion of the assigned task.
17. The Chairperson of the Enquiry Committee shall be entitled to
all the perks of a sitting Supreme Court Judge minus pension.
They   shall   be   provided   full   secretarial   assistance,   official   car
and other paraphernalia for effective completion of the enquiry,
as directed above.
18. Till   conclusion   of   the   proceedings   of   the   Enquiry   Committee
constituted   above,   the   enquiries   ordered   by   the   Central
Government   and   the   State   Government   shall   be   kept   in
abeyance.
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19.   List   the   matter   after   receipt   of   the   Report   of   the   Enquiry
Committee.
..……………………..CJI
(N.V. RAMANA)
.……………………….. J 
(SURYA KANT)
.……………………….. J
(HIMA KOHLI)
New Delhi;
Dated: January 12, 2022
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