CHANDIGARH: Justice Ranjit Singh a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court launched his much awaited book, ‘The Sacrilege’ at Chandigarh Press Club here on Wednesday.
The book was launched by Justice SS Sodhi, Justice Nawab Singh and Justice Mahesh Grover.
Talking about the Book, Justice Ranjit Singh said that the incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place in District Faridkot in 2015. The incidents included tearing and scattering of holy Angs (pages) from the Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib ji and also pasting posters threatening the peace of Punjab, he said.
He felt that the public at large carry a grouse against the powers that be, for not doing enough to bring the real culprits of the sacrilege before justice despite investigations by several SITs and two Inquiry Commissions.
It may be mentioned here that the Commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh was asked to inquire into nearly 160 cases of sacrilege. The Commission completed the inquiry into all these cases in record time of nearly 12 months and submitted its Report in four parts running into 544 pages.
Justice Ranjit Singh added that the Report of the Commission was debated in the Punjab Assembly and was accepted by the House unanimously but did not come in public domain. Effort has been made in the Book to bring various facts and truth before the public which led to the sacrilege incidents hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community and the Nation leaving indelible scars. Unfortunately, blatant sacrilege was followed by the firing of police personnel on innocent protesters leading to loss of human life.
On this occasion Justice Sodhi said that various investigations by SITs into these cases of sacrilege have made little headway leaving the public clamoring for justice. He stated that the Commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh carried out the investigation into the cases of sacrilege without bias.
This book is an eye-opener with startling revelations and is written in lucid and simple language unfolding the tragedy of sacrilege incidents that occurred.
About the Author
Justice Ranjit Singh is a former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court of. He has headed various committees including the Ranjit Singh Commission to look into the various cases of sacrilege in Punjab during 2015. He has served as Chairman, Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi having jurisdiction over the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
A product of the over century old S.S.S.S. Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Amritsar, the author had graduated from Khalsa College, Amritsar and had completed his law degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh. In a twist of fate, the author happened to come across an advertisement for direct entry into the judicial department of the Army known as Judge Advocate General Department. He took voluntary retirement as Major in 1986 to start his second innings in the legal profession. Thus, traversed a unique journey from the Army to the legal profession by choice. From “Lieut” to Judge of Constitutional Court would in itself bear testimony to the efforts and tenacity of the person to make a mark.