The Punjab government request for a probe by a sitting high court judge into the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala has not been accepted, according to sources.

The sources said a communication in this regard has been sent to the state government by the court administration. The HC administration is learnt to have told the government that it cannot spare a judge. The high court is short of 38 judges with a pendency of around 4.50 lakh cases. There was no immediate reaction from the state government. Moose Wala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district On May 29.