Arguments end before cop-magistrate assault panel

Rourkela: The Justice A S Naidu Commission of Inquiry, probing into the police-magistrate scuffle in Rourkela on April 2, 2011, today completed the probe after hearing arguments from all the concerned parties.

“Arguments are closed and the Commission shall submit its report to the Government in due course,” said Justice Naidu after holding 42^nd sitting of the commission at Cuttack.

The Commission had begun its probe in July 2011 holding its first sitting on August 20 last year.

A total of 44 persons, including judicial and police officers had submitted affidavits and statements before the Commission. Barring one witness, all others appeared in person before the Commission to depose and face cross-examinations.

It may be recalled here that Panposh Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Arun Kumar Patnaik was allegedly assaulted by Uditnagar IIC Sadananda Pujari on the night of April 2, 2011 which evoked a state-wide protest by the lawyers, including that of the High Court in Cuttack thereby paralyzing judicial activities in the State for over a week.

While two FIRs were filed in Uditnagar police station here against the concerned IIC and the Judicial Magistrate, a PIL was filed in the High Court.

Later, a worried State Government had immediately announced a judicial commission of inquiry after suspending the IIC and asking the then Rourkela SP Diptesh Patnaik to go on leave.

Subsequently, the retired High Court judge Justice Naidu was appointed to conduct a judicial probe into the matter asking the Commission to submit its report after analyzing the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the police-magistrate brawl.

The Commission was also asked to enquire into the role, conduct and responsibility of the persons involved in the unpleasant incident.

Although, several pleas were made by the judicial fraternity later to extend the jurisdiction of the Judicial Commission and probe into the highhandedness of Rourkela police, the same was turned down by the State Government summarily. Even the Odisha High Court also had refused to intervene with regard to the extension of the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the Rourkela Bar Association (RBA), in a petitison to the Justice Naidu Commission on Friday, has decided to withdraw its affidavit.

President of RBA Ramesh Chandra Bal said that the Association had earlier sought permission of the Commission to withdraw from participating in the proceedings of the panel alleging that State Government had no trust on the findings of the Commission since it had, in the meantime, promoted the then Rourkela SP Diptesh Patnaik to the rank of DIG who was asked to go on leave soon after the incident.

Stating that the Naidu Commission had its last hearing today, Bal said that the RBA has decided to protest against the promotion of Patnaik till the availability of Naidu Commission’s findings.