The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and State of Punjab on a petition filed by former Maharashtra DGP S S Virk, seeking prosecution of the official, responsible for defying the Supreme Court order.

Virk, who had also headed Punjab police, was suspended following his arrest in September 2006 in a disproportionate assets case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices J M Panchal and B S Chauhan also issued notices to the then principal secretary, home, Punjab and K Natrajan, under secretary in the Union home ministry.

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Chandigarh had quashed the disciplinary proceedings against Mr Virk on April 3, 2008.

Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the CAT order. Mr Virk had raised the issue which of the two governments namely Union government or Punjab government was competent to decide all the disciplinary proceedings against him since he is a member of All India Service.

The Centre in June 2008 in undue haste told Punjab government that State government was competent to take action against him.

The apex court, however, ruled that since Virk is a senior IPS officer , which is an All India Service, only Centre was competent to take action against him.

S S Patwalia appeared for Mr Virk, who had filed contempt of court petition against the Union government and Punjab government.

UNI