(Online Desk)

The Vasundhara Raje government on Monday tabled the controversial Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) ordinance which seeks to protect both serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in Rajasthan from being investigated for on-duty action without its prior sanction, in the State Assembly.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer A K Jain filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Rajasthan High Court against the ordinance.

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, promulgated on September 7, also seeks to bar the media from reporting on accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is obtained.

“No magistrate shall order an investigation nor will any investigation be conducted against a person, who is or was a judge or a magistrate or a public servant,” reads the ordinance which provides 180 days immunity to the officers.

If there is no decision on the sanction request post the stipulated time period, it will automatically mean that sanction has been granted.

The ordinance amends the Criminal Code of Procedure, 1973 and also seeks to curb on publishing and printing or publicising, in any case, the name, address, photograph, family details of the public servants.

Violating the clause would call for two years imprisonment.