Chandigarh, April 26 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has called for a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with complaints against gangsters.

"A firm hand, with stringent law enforcement and legal measures, is essential to dismantling extortion rackets, deterring future criminal enterprises and safeguarding the moral fabric of society," the bench of justice HS Brar said further underlining that the judiciary also must ensure that those who engage in such nefarious activities face the full brunt of the law, sending a strong message that such criminality will not be tolerated.

The court was dealing with a plea from a Hisar resident, who had alleged that he and his nephew had been receiving threats from Rohit Godara, a gangster,...