CHANDIGARH, July 19: Describing the Public Interest Litigation seeking "thorough investigation" of the Punjab Cricket Association case as "total misuse of the power of the court", a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here has dismissed the same.Pronouncing the orders on Shiromani Akali Dal member Colonel J.S. Bala's plea, Justice R.S. Mongia and Justice Iqbal Singh observed: "We are afraid that there is no basis for making such allegations that the Central Bureau of Investigations is being influenced by any person".The Bench added: "We can not imagine that the CBI, which is an independent investigating authority and not under the State of Punjab or any of its officers, to whom directions were given to continue with the investigation in the earlier writ petition, is being influenced as alleged. We have to repose some faith in the independent investigating agencies like CBI".In the two-page order, the Bench observed: "In this petition, prayer made is for issuance of a writ, order, or directions for proper and thorough investigation of a case registered by the CBI as Crime Number 7/97, which is sought to be scuttled on account of influenced exerted by the political powers in Punjab on totally misconvieved, misplaced and nonexistent ground with an aim to help the persons involved in the crime".The Bench further observed: "The assertion is that the persons, against whom the allegations have been made, being very influential are thus controlling the manner, method and outcome of the investigations held so far. A direction has been sought not to close the case."Mohunta to continueAdvocate Ashutosh Mohunta will continue to work as Senior Central Government Counsel in the Punjab and Haryana High Court here.In an order issued by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs on July 16, Mohunta will continue till the expiry of his term on June 4, 2001. Meanwhile, Advocate Praveen Chander Goyal will continue to work as Additional Central Government standing Counsel after the termination of his engagement as the Senior Central Government Standing Counsel.
