5 July 2011. Responding to a writ petition filed seeking immediate retracting of the government’s decision to promote Kuber Singh Rana to the post of AIG, the Apex Court today issued an interim order barring Rana from discharging his duties as AIG till June 11. Rana is charged of his alleged involvement in the disappearance and subsequent murder of 5 students in Jankapur back on 8 October 2003.
A single bench decision of Justice Prem Sharma issued the aforesaid order against the respondents on the ground that Mr. Rana might use his authority to tamper with the evidence and to influence his subordinates in his capacity as the AIG.
Rana was promoted to AIG by the government on the recommendation of Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara on 23 June 2011. Public Service Commission (PSC) had already dubbed the government’s decision as unconstitutional and had asked the latter to rectify the move.
With legal assistance from Advocacy Forum (AF), the victims’ family had filed an FIR at DPO Dhanusha on July 9 2006. Welcoming the decision, AF Chairperson Mandira Sharma said: “This is an emblematic case from the conflict and the perpetrator should be held accountable. Immunity without following the due process of law is not tolerable.”
