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WASHINGTON: As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives here on a four-
day visit, a Sikh rights group has secured summons against him from a US
court in connection with the alleged human rights violations in the
counter-insurgency operations in Punjab in the 1990s.
The Sikh for Justice (SFJ), the New York-based rights body, is now planning
to file an urgent leave "to effect alternative means of service" that would
allow it to deliver the summons to the White House staff and members of
Singh's security team when he is here.
Prime Minister Singh arrives here on Thursday for a meeting with
President Barack Obama.
Knowledgeable sources said it would be very tough for the SFJ to serve
summons to Singh given the tight security around him. There are also
procedural difficulties for the SFJ to get the necessary court directions
issued for the White House and the Secret Service.
Ravi Batra, the New York-based attorney who represents the Congress
Party in a similar case filed against it by the SFJ, termed it as a publicity
gimmicks.
"SFJ's 'red carpet' welcome, a lawsuit against Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, the leader of a free, independent and sovereign nation, is headline
grabbing while insulting law, decency and common sense," Batra said.
"American courts have tools to handle an out-of-control litigant, whose
main goal is to use the court's ministerial act of accepting a complaint,
with the USD 350 filing fee paid and then automatically issuing a summons,
to falsely imply in pre-made press releases that a court had acted on some
merits - when it did no such thing," Batra said.
The 24-page complaint alleges that Singh as the Finance Minister in early
1990s approved and financed the practice of "cash rewards" to members of
security forces for allegedly killing Sikhs through extra judicial means to
curb militancy.
The complaint also alleges that during his tenure as the Prime Minister
beginning 2004, Singh actively shielded and protected the members of his
political party who were allegedly involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sikh groups have announced to hold a "Justice Rally" on Friday in front of
White House during Obama-Singh meeting.
Justifying the filing of lawsuit, SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
said the human rights violation law suit against Singh has been filed under
Alien Tort Claims Act and Torture Victim Protection Act for funding several
counter insurgency operations in Punjab.
http://m.timesofindia.com/india/US-court-issues-summons-against-Manmohan-Singh/articleshow/23082254.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOIIndiaNews
day visit, a Sikh rights group has secured summons against him from a US
court in connection with the alleged human rights violations in the
counter-insurgency operations in Punjab in the 1990s.
The Sikh for Justice (SFJ), the New York-based rights body, is now planning
to file an urgent leave "to effect alternative means of service" that would
allow it to deliver the summons to the White House staff and members of
Singh's security team when he is here.
Prime Minister Singh arrives here on Thursday for a meeting with
President Barack Obama.
Knowledgeable sources said it would be very tough for the SFJ to serve
summons to Singh given the tight security around him. There are also
procedural difficulties for the SFJ to get the necessary court directions
issued for the White House and the Secret Service.
Ravi Batra, the New York-based attorney who represents the Congress
Party in a similar case filed against it by the SFJ, termed it as a publicity
gimmicks.
"SFJ's 'red carpet' welcome, a lawsuit against Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, the leader of a free, independent and sovereign nation, is headline
grabbing while insulting law, decency and common sense," Batra said.
"American courts have tools to handle an out-of-control litigant, whose
main goal is to use the court's ministerial act of accepting a complaint,
with the USD 350 filing fee paid and then automatically issuing a summons,
to falsely imply in pre-made press releases that a court had acted on some
merits - when it did no such thing," Batra said.
The 24-page complaint alleges that Singh as the Finance Minister in early
1990s approved and financed the practice of "cash rewards" to members of
security forces for allegedly killing Sikhs through extra judicial means to
curb militancy.
The complaint also alleges that during his tenure as the Prime Minister
beginning 2004, Singh actively shielded and protected the members of his
political party who were allegedly involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sikh groups have announced to hold a "Justice Rally" on Friday in front of
White House during Obama-Singh meeting.
Justifying the filing of lawsuit, SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
said the human rights violation law suit against Singh has been filed under
Alien Tort Claims Act and Torture Victim Protection Act for funding several
counter insurgency operations in Punjab.
http://m.timesofindia.com/india/US-court-issues-summons-against-Manmohan-Singh/articleshow/23082254.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOIIndiaNews