The Supreme Court has delivered a significant setback to the Punjab Government by dismissing its Special Leave Petition (SLP), which challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order to transfer the hearing of the Behbal Kalan firing case from a Faridkot court to a Chandigarh court. This decision was pronounced on April 16, 2025. The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the Behbal Kalan firing case will now be heard in Chandigarh.The High Court had previously ordered the transfer of the case to Chandigarh, citing that witnesses were receiving threats during the trial in Faridkot, which necessitated the move to ensure a fair hearing. The Punjab Government had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against this transfer, but the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision. The court agreed that the transfer was necessary to protect witnesses and ensure an impartial trial.
Background:
The Behbal Kalan firing case relates to an incident in 2015 in Behbal Kalan village, Faridkot district, Punjab, where two people were killed and several others injured in police firing on Sikh protesters. The incident occurred during protests against the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. Serious allegations have been leveled against police officials and others in this case, which has remained politically and socially sensitive in Punjab for a long time.The High Court had ordered the transfer of the case to Chandigarh based on complaints of threats to witnesses and obstacles to a fair trial. The Supreme Court’s latest decision is a blow to the Punjab Government’s efforts to keep the hearing in Faridkot.
