US court to hear human rights violation case against Parkash Singh Badal

NEW YORK: A US federal court will hold an evidentiary hearing on February 21 against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in an alleged human rights violation case filed against him by a Sikh rights group.

Wisconsin Judge Lynn Adelman ordered that the purpose of the hearing is to solve basic jurisdictional issues relating to service of court summons on Badal and to examine the witnesses and other evidence.

Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have filed the human rights violations case against Badal under Alien Torts Claims Act and Torture Victims Protection Act in the Federal District Court of Wisconsin.

Badal's attorney Attorney Michelle Jacobs has sought dismissal of the case saying Badal was not served the summons in August last year when he had visited Wisconsin.