JNU case: SC to hear Patiala House violence matter on March 29

NEW DELHI: The Supreme court today asked the parties to two petitions, pertaining to incidents of violence in the Patiala House court complex during the hearing related to JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, to complete pleadings by March 29.

"Let the petitions come up for hearing on March 29," a bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre said and asked the counsel for Delhi Police, Delhi High Court Registry and others to file their respective responses or counter responses before the next date of hearing.

The court passed the order on a bunch of petitions filed in this regard.

In one such petition, filed by advocate Kamini Jaiswal, an SIT probe had been sought into the incidents on February 15 and 17 in which three lawyers were allegedly caught on camera "bragging and boasting" they had beaten up the student leader and others.

The court had, on February 26, sought response from the Centre and Delhi Police on Jaiswal's plea which has also sought initiation of contempt action against the lawyers for allegedly beating Kanhaiya and others in the district courts complex.

The plea has sought "suo motu contempt proceeding" against lawyers Vikram Singh Chauhan, Yashpal Singh and Om Sharma on the ground that they have allegedly been caught on camera talking about the attacks, claiming that the three interfered in the "administration of justice" and wilfully violated the orders passed by the apex court on February 17.

In the earlier petition, an alumnus of JNU who was hurt in the violence on February 15, N D Jaiprakash, had complained of inaction of police against those were allegedly involved in thrashing journalists, students and teachers in a city court and sought a fair trial "free from fear of violence and prejudice".

It had alleged that police were a "mute spectator to this brazen display of violence and brute force being perpetrated on innocent persons" who had gathered in the Court premises.