Bring riots affected areas under control: Supreme Court to UP govt

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today directed the Uttar Pradesh government to take immediate steps in association with the Centre to bring under control the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and ensure safe passage to people stranded in the conflict zone.

Taking into account the grim picture of riot affected areas projected by a group of lawyers whose family members were affected in it which has so far claimed 44 lives, the apex court dismissed the plea of UP government that no order be passed on the petitions for the time being.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam disapproved Akhilesh Yadav government's stiff opposition to involve the Centre on the issue of law and order in the riot-hit districts.

"We feel that this court has to go into this aspect. We cannot dismiss the petitions in limini (summarily)," the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi said while directing Centre and UP government to file compliance report on the next date of hearing on September 16.

It directed the state government and the centre to take immediate steps to bring stranded people to a safe place and also rehabilitate them. The bench also directed the authorities to ensure that those injured are provided with immediate medical assistance.

Seeking the immediate intervention of the apex court in the matter, senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam said the situation in the western districts of the state was grim as mobs had set ablaze many religious places, shops and houses and that the state government has failed to contain the situation.

He submitted that the people of that area had approached various authorities including the PMO but the situation has remained serious and tense since August 29.