The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken a stern stance against the Patiala police, summoning senior officials to explain alleged inaction in two separate cases involving complainants from the Scheduled Caste community. The commission has directed the Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Superintendent of Police to appear before it to account for the lapses.
Summons Issued for Lapses in Death Investigation
In the first case, the commission intervened after a complaint from Ram Prashad (70), a resident of village Balbera in Patiala. Prashad informed the panel that his son, Gurtej Singh, left for his shop job on December 13, 2025. Around 11 am the same day, the family received a devastating phone call informing them of his death.
While the police moved the body to a mortuary, the Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala allegedly ignored the family's pleas for a thorough investigation. Instead, officials initiated routine proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC, which deals with inquiries into unnatural deaths, and directed the family to conduct the last rites.
The situation took a more disturbing turn when the family was finally allowed to see the body. They found it to be badly burnt, raising serious questions about the circumstances surrounding Gurtej Singh's death. Despite clear instructions from the commission to the Patiala police, no substantial investigative action was reportedly taken.
Consequently, the commission has summoned DSP City-1 of Patiala to appear before it on January 14 and provide an explanation for this grave lapse.
Second Case: Inaction Against Police Inspector
In a separate but similarly concerning matter, the commission has also called the Superintendent of Police of the Punjab Bureau of Investigation in Patiala. This summons relates to a case involving Sukhdeep Kaur, wife of Sukhwinder Singh and a resident of Dhammu Majra in Patiala.
The commission alleges that no action was taken on a complaint filed against Inspector Baljit Singh, despite the panel issuing repeated instructions. This persistent inaction has prompted the commission to demand the SP's presence at the same hearing on January 14.
A Signal for Accountability
The dual summons signal the commission's growing impatience with police departments failing to act diligently in cases concerning Scheduled Caste citizens. By calling senior officials directly to account, the commission is asserting its oversight role and emphasizing the need for prompt and impartial justice.
These actions highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring police accountability and equal protection under the law for vulnerable communities. The outcomes of the January 14 hearings will be closely watched as a measure of the commission's authority and the police administration's responsiveness.
