Chandigarh: The Delhi assembly’s committee of privileges on Wednesday asked the Punjab home department to direct additional chief secretary (home) Alok Shekhar, DGP Gaurav Yadav and Jalandhar police commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur to comply with its summons and appear in person on Feb 27.In a communication to the Punjab home department, the Delhi assembly secretariat said the chairperson had taken on record the department’s response but clarified that the summons were not issued solely due to non-receipt of replies. It added that the officers would get adequate opportunity to present their stand before the committee during its sitting on Feb 27 at the Delhi assembly complex.The secretariat also noted that the committee could not be expected to repeatedly respond to departmental queries and that any clarification, if required, would be sought by the panel.The Punjab home department had written to the Delhi assembly following an internal communication from Shekhar. In his letter, Shekhar said his reply had been submitted within the prescribed time on Feb 20 and was also endorsed to the Delhi assembly secretariat. He argued that the summons for personal appearance appeared to have been issued because his comments were not forwarded in time by the state govt.Shekhar requested the Punjab govt to immediately send his reply to the Delhi assembly and seek exemption from his personal appearance, stating that the matter involved statutory proceedings before a constitutional body.Responding to this, the Delhi assembly secretariat said the chairperson had directed that complete details of the case had already been shared with the officers through a letter dated Feb 5 and that the panel would hear them on the scheduled date.Copies of the communication were marked to the Punjab ACS (home), DGP and the Jalandhar police commissioner, advising them to appear before the committee as per the notice.The three officers were summoned on Feb 21 in connection with complaints of breach of privilege and contempt linked to alleged remarks by Delhi leader of opposition and former chief minister Atishi against the Sikh Gurus. The summons noted that comments sought from the officers by Feb 20 had not been received by the secretariat within the stipulated time.
