New Delhi;-Delhi High Court today directed that a senior officer of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) be present before it on May 27 to explain whether a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against an advocate who wanted to travel to Iraq to do relief work and oppose ISIS activities .
Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued the direction as no lawyer for the agency was present due to a strike called by Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and no officer from IB turned up.
“It is not a holiday for him,” the judge remarked and directed that the officer concerned be present in court on next hearing on May 27.
The court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Mehmood Pracha who has not only sought quashing of the LOC allegedly issued against him, but has also sought “disbanding” of IB.
He has also sought that a Rs 10 crore penalty be imposed upon IB for its action.
The court had on April 20 asked the agency to inform it whether an LOC was issued against the advocate and, if yes, what was its status.
However, due to the strike, only a proxy counsel nominated by DHCBA was present on behalf of the government and IB and could not answer the court’s query as to whether an LOC was issued.
Pracha has sought disbanding of IB, saying the agency has not been set up under any statute and is not accountable to anyone.
Pracha has said,”…IB has become an uncontrollable all-powerful, extra-constitutional establishment in itself which runs parallel to the democratically-elected government and regularly interferes and influences opinions and decisions in all spheres of governance with unfettered impunity..”
His plea contended that IB “must be forthwith brought under a legislation laying down clearly its charter, duties, functions, powers etc.
PTI
