Sikkim government announces judicial inquiry into death of student leader, CAP unconvinced

Justice N. K. Jain (retired), former Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, to inquire into the unnatural death of Padam Gurung, 

PRAKASH ADHIKARI, EOI, GANGTOK, JULY 12, 2023 : The Sikkim government has constituted a one-man judicial inquiry commission under Justice N. K. Jain (retired), former Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, to inquire into the unnatural death of Padam Gurung, President of the Student Representative Council of the Sikkim Government College, Kamrang, Namchi District; into which an unnatural death case was registered by the Namchi Police Station on June 28.

A notification issued by Sikkim Chief Secretary V.B. Pathak on Wednesday said the commission would complete its inquiry and submit a report within one month of the day of notification. 

The Commission shall exercise powers conferred under Sections 4, 5 and 5A of the Commission of Inquiry Act,1952. 

The Citizens’ Action Party, however, rejected the judicial inquiry instituted by the government into the death of the student leader; calling it a “delayingtactic.” 

CAP leader Ganesh Rai said “we were waiting for the Special Investigation Team report to come through. In between the government has declared an independent judicial inquiry. This is delayingtactic.” 

The government did not want impartial facts to reach the people or investigation to happen, he said. 

“People have a right to know the real reason for Padam Gurung’s death.” After the formation of the SIT, the Superintendent of Police was transferred. 

“The way Padam Gurung’s body was found, the injury on his body, seeing all we feel it was a murder. The government is trying to hide that. We have no doubt on Sikkim Police. But they are not allowed to   function properly. To give justice to Padam Gurung, we will call a Janta Adalat.