Don't you understand the sensitivity of the issue?: SC on PIL seeking safety of tourists in J&K

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking safety of tourists in remote hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh pulled up advocate Vishal Tiwari for filing the PIL and said it is only meant for publicity without any public cause.

"Why have you filed this kind of PIL? What is your real motive? Don't you understand the sensitivity of the issue? I think you are inviting some exemplary cost for filing this PIL," Justice Surya Kant told Tiwari.

The petitioner lawyer said this was the first time that tourists in Jammu and Kashmir were targeted, and hence, he was seeking directions for their safety.


Previously, the Supreme Court has underscored the need for Indians to unite and fight terrorism at this "crucial hour". The top court passed verbal remarks while adjudicating on a PIL seeking probe by a judicial commission headed by a retired SC judge into the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

Refusing to entertain the PIL, a bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh told the petitioner "not to do anything that may demoralise our forces".

Disapproving of the prayers made in the PIL, justice Surya Kant verbally remarked "since when did judges acquire expertise in conducting investigations? Judges settle disputes, they do not investigate". Speaking for the bench, justice Kant told the petitioner "Mr counsel, you owe some duty to the country. Please do not bring such cases which may demoralise forces at this juncture."

SC granted liberty to the petitioner to move the appropriate HC to seek directions to protect Kashmiri students studying outside J&K.

Terrorists on April 22 opened fire in Baisaran, a popular tourist spot in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, killing 26 people, mostly tourists from other states.The incident spiked India-Pakistan tensions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting the killers would be pursued "to the ends of the earth."