SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh high court has prodded the state police chief for slow pace of action in cases faced by the public representatives of various panchayati raj institutions (PRI).It has asked the panchayat department to explain why no action was being taken against such elected members of rural local bodies. HC has also directed DGP S P Mardi to file a status report in all the FIRs where investigation was not complete yet.“In certain cases, even though challans stand presented, yet no decision for passing appropriate orders of suspension has been taken by the appropriate authority, why so, remains unexplained,” it added.Division bench of acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma, in an order on Thursday, also directed secretary panchayati raj R N Batta to file his personal affidavit on this issue.During the hearing, HC found that in certain cases, even though FIR was registered in the year 2016, the investigation was incomplete. It directed all the concerned deputy commissioners to immediately take up the matter and pass appropriate orders with regard thereto, in accordance with law within of one week.On May 5, the court had directed the director of panchayati raj and rural development to file his affidavit indicating details with regard to the public representatives of various PRIs, against whom FIRs stood registered under various provisions of law. On May 15, HC was told that against at least 15 pradhans/ward members/up-pradhans, were facing FIRs.“The affidavit is silent as to whether in any one of the FIRs charge stands framed or not,” it observed.

Stay updated with all the Latest Shimla headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.