- (1.) We direct that the Registrar of this court Shri R. Subha Rao, along with an officer of this Registry knowing the language of the detenu, will meet and shall be allowed to meet the defendant Harchand Singh Longowal for the purpose of ascertaining whether the detenu desires that this habeas corpus petition should be pursued on his behalf. The Registrar shall hand over to the detenu a copy of this habeas corpus petition, which was filed by Miss Rani Jethmalani, advocate. The Registrar and the officer accompanying him will explain to the detenu the substance of the habeas corpus petition and the nature of the habeas corpus petition and the nature of the relief sought therein.
(2.) No other person, including any officer or number of the staff of the place in which the detenu is kept, shall remain present or be within the hearing distance at the time when the two officers meet the detenu. The officers will convey to the detenu that if he desires to file a habeas corpus petition he can do so either by himself or through any other representative. If the detenu so desires, he may ask the Registrar to treat this habeas corpus petition as if it were filed by him or by a representative authorised by him.
(3.) In the mean while, the pleading shall be completed as directed below. The counter-affidavit, if any, shall be filed by the respondent, the Union of India, within two weeks from today. The rejoinder, if any. shall be filed within ten days thereafter.;