Law: Police Order, 2002

Section: 4, 30, 126 & 127

Law: Police Rules, 1934

Section: 2.9–2.13, 18.20

Law: Punjab Special Protection Unit Act, 2016

Section: 3, 5

Law: Punjab Witness Protection Act, 2018

Section: 2, 6, 7

 Summary

The High Court held that the denial of police protection to the petitioner—a businessman, eyewitness to murder, star prosecution witness, and victim of repeated life-threatening incidents—was unlawful. The Court ruled that police protection is a constitutional obligation flowing from the right to life, and cannot be denied solely on the basis of District Intelligence Committee (DIC) recommendations. Statutory regimes including the Police Order, 2002, Punjab Special Protection Unit Act, 2016, and Punjab Witness Protection Act, 2018 independently empower the police to provide protection. The Court declared that policy cannot override statute, and directed the Inspector General of Police to provide immediate police protection to the petitioner.

Tag Line 

Right to life — Police protection — Businessman & prosecution witness — Threat perception — DIC recommendations not binding — Statute prevails over policy — Police duty to protect life — Protection directed

ORDER;