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‘Can’t close our eyes to what is happening’: HC issues notice to Punjab Police over Ranjit Singh encounter, seeks affidavit

DGP Gaurav Yadav appears before the Punjab and Haryana High Court via video link, assuring the bench that procedures and NHRC guidelines were followed.

5 min readChandigarhUpdated: Mar 6, 2026 04:09 AM IST

The case will be heard along with an unrelated matter concerning gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s jail interview. (Express Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Punjab Police in connection with the alleged encounter killing of Ranjit Singh and directed the director general of police (DGP) to file an affidavit explaining the circumstances of the incident. DGP Gaurav Yadav appeared before the bench through video conference and responded to the court’s queries during the hearing.

The bench, headed by Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and also comprising Justice Deepak Manchanda, said it could not “close its eyes” to the concerns being raised about recent encounters in the state and sought a detailed response from the police.

The court observed that the material placed before it suggested the deceased youth was around 19 years old and had no criminal antecedents. “You have to satisfy us,” the bench told the police, adding that the court would examine the response before deciding the next course of action, including whether the matter should be handed over to an independent agency.

“We cannot close our eyes to what is happening,” Justice Grewal observed during the hearing, while emphasising that suspects must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

Ranjit Singh was one of the three youths named by police in the sensational February 22 double murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and Home Guard jawan Ashok Kumar at a joint checkpost in Adhian village, barely 2 km from the Pakistan border. Investigators had described the attack as an ISI-orchestrated strike aimed at spreading terror, with the trio allegedly paid around Rs 20,000 to carry it out. While Dilawar Singh was arrested immediately and Inderjit Singh was picked up later from Amritsar, Ranjit was declared killed in an “encounter” three days after the police officials’ killings.

Appearing through video link, the DGP submitted that mandatory procedures were being meticulously followed in all such cases. He told the court that the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the PUCL versus State of Maharashtra (2014) judgment, along with the National Human Rights Commission guidelines on encounter deaths, were being scrupulously adhered to.

He also said that wherever required, magisterial inquiries were being initiated and informed the bench that in the present case, the chief judicial magistrate concerned had already taken cognisance and passed certain orders. A special investigation team had also been set up to probe the alleged encounter, he informed.

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The bench, however, pointed to similarities between the present case and other recent incidents in which accused persons were allegedly taken for recovery of weapons, attempted to escape, and were subsequently shot in police firing.

Amicus curiae Tanu Bedi referred to another such incident in Mohali, where the narrative in the First Information Report (FIR) appeared similar. She also brought to the court’s notice a recent report in The Indian Express highlighting multiple police encounters in Punjab over the past three months.

The court said the similarities in these cases raised questions about the broader issue of adherence to the rule of law. “You may catch them, but you cannot take the law totally into your hands. They have to be dealt with in accordance with law,” the bench observed.

The judges also noted that in such situations, eliminating suspects could hinder efforts to identify those behind larger criminal conspiracies. “You need to find out the real conspirators and the people behind the scene,” the court said.

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What the police told the court

During the hearing, senior counsel Puneet Bali, appearing in the matter, along with the DGP, also informed the bench about steps being taken by the state to strengthen policing and accountability. They told the court that a new transfer policy for the police force had been prepared and was expected to be notified by the state government shortly.

The DGP further submitted that the state was in the process of strengthening ground-level policing and said additional personnel would soon be deployed for patrolling duties. He also informed the court that about one acre of land in Mohali had been earmarked for the establishment of a new police facility as part of the effort to improve policing infrastructure.

The bench clarified that it was not making any final observations at this stage and that the police would be given an opportunity to place their stand on record.

“We will give you about a week to ten days to file your reply. After that, we will consider the next course of action,” the court said, adding that it would examine whether further steps such as the constitution of a special investigation team or a probe by an independent agency were required.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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Punjab and Haryana High Court

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