Judgment

KHALID, L: - The petitioners in these cases are accused in a murder case registered as FIR No. 162 dated 5th September, 1983. The matter is now pending before the Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class,. Ludhiana, for committal proceedings.

2. Transfer Petition No. 16 of 1986 and Special Leave Petition 491 of 1986 are by D. R. Bhatti, Commandant, 7th Battalion Punjab Armed Police, Jalandhar Cantonment, Punjab, the first accused in the case. Transfer Petition No. 91 of 1986 is by six other accused, two of whom are Sub-Inspectors and two Head-Constables. These persons along with 9 others are accused of murder on 13-8-1983. of Dalip Singh and three others.

3. The petitioners have directly come to this Court with these transfer petitions without approaching either the Sessions Judge or the High Court. The reason why they have done so is given in the transfer petition filed by D. R. Bhatti. It has been stated in the petition that a volatile situation exists in Punjab and that he is the prime target of the extremists. The alleged incident took place on August 13/14, 1983. An F.I.R. was lodged on September 5,1983. The C. B. I. filed a challan on December 31, 1985 when alone his name was gi