Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's legal troubles linked to a 2020 protest in Chandigarh have resurfaced, with the Supreme Court issuing him a notice on a plea filed by the Chandigarh administration.
The Background Of The Case
The dispute traces back to a protest held in Chandigarh in 2020, after which an FIR was registered against Bhagwant Mann. The High Court later quashed that FIR. The Chandigarh administration was not satisfied with the High Court's order and challenged it before the Supreme Court. It is on this very plea that the Supreme Court has now sent a notice to Bhagwant Mann, seeking his response.
Relief In A Related Case On July 16
Another case involving Bhagwant Mann had reached the Supreme Court recently, seeking a hearing over a protest march against him linked to an electricity tariff agitation. The Supreme Court declined to intervene, observing that everyone indulges in sloganeering in a democracy, effectively granting Mann relief in that matter.
A Separate Row Over Stray Dogs
Around the same time, another matter concerning Bhagwant Mann came up before the Supreme Court, where a hearing was sought over the Chief Minister's statement referencing the court's directions on stray dogs. The Supreme Court refused to entertain that plea as well. Following this, Bhagwant Mann announced that stray dogs would be removed in line with the Supreme Court's directions.
What Happens Next
With the notice now issued on the Chandigarh administration's plea in the 2020 protest case, both sides are expected to present their arguments when the matter comes up for hearing again.
