C.W.P. No.2870 of 2008 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No.2870 of 2008 Decided on : 18-11-2008 Malkit Kaur .... Petitioner VERSUS State of Punjab & others .... Respondents CORAM:-HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT GUPTA. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAWAB SINGH. Present:- Mr. S.S. Goraya, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Sandeep Moudgil, D.A.G, Punjab. HEMANT GUPTA, J The petitioner has invoked the writ jurisdiction of this Court, directing the respondents to pay compensation to the petitioner on account of death of the petitioner in the illegal custody of Police Station, Quadian, Police District Batala, on 01.10.1991. It is the case of the petitioner that son of the petitioner namely Manjit Singh was picked up forcibly on 01.08.1991 from Bus Stand Quadian, Police District Batala and was kept in illegal custody by the Police. The petitioner was assured by Munshi Harjit Singh Saini and SHO Rajbir Singh that her son would be released after interrogation. But on 13.08.1991, when the petitioner went to meet her son, it was informed that her son has been shifted to some other Police Station and thereafter, the petitioner has not been able to meet her son. It appears that he has been eliminated by SHO, Police Station, Quadian while in Police custody. The petitioner relies upon the telegrams issued on 03.09.1991, 30.09.1991 and also communication to one Tejinder Singh Ahuja, Advocate on 13.03.1993. C.W.P. No.2870 of 2008 -2- The petitioner has also attached a copy of the letter dated 07.10.1996, written to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The fact remains that the petitioner has invoked the writ jurisdiction of this Court after 16 years of the alleged incident. The respondents in reply, has denied the fact that the son of the petitioner was ever taken into custody. Long delay on the part of the petitioner, disentitles the petitioner from invoking the writ jurisdiction of this Court. Consequently, the present writ petition is dismissed on account of delay and latches. (Hemant Gupta) Judge 18th November 2008. (Nawab Singh) Monika Judge