Janjivan Bureau / Chandigarh : Nobat Singh spent nearly eight years in jail during the Independence movement. Fighting the “corrupt” system later, he found himself victimised for complaining to the CBI against an excise inspector demanding Rs 200 as illegal gratification way back in 1969.
Pushed to the wall after closure of his business following constant harassment, he moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1991 after a recovery of Rs 1.6 lakh excise duty arrears was slapped on him. Sadly, a favourable judgment in the case came 27 years after the petition and 18 years after his death.
The case is just one of the 3.42 lakh cases pending before the High Court.
In his petition, Nobat Singh had said he was forced to shut down his business of curing tobacco leaves which he had started in 1969 within a year because of “constant and uncalled for interference and demands of illegal gratification by officials of the Central Excise Department”.
He filed a complaint with the CBI Director General against Excise Inspector SK Khanna in 1969, following which the officer was caught red-handed accepting Rs 200.
“This exemplary and praiseworthy act antagonised various officials, who became his enemies. Under the circumstances, he had to close his business,” Justices Ajay Kumar Mittal and Tejinder Singh Dhindsa observed.
The officials impounded tobacco leaves and took away account books. “The total value of uncured leaves and 3,000 gunny bags then was Rs 1.8 lakh,” the Bench said.
In 1991, Nobat Singh was shown the letter that a sum of Rs 1,60, 271 was to be recovered. The Bench allowed the petition after observing that recovery could not be effected from the legal heirs after his death about 18 years ago.
