SC dubs Gurjar’s agitation as national shame
Supreme Court has taken serious note of the recent Gurjar-Meena stand-off over the formers’ demand for the Schedule Tribe tag, which resulted in the virtual siege of the capital city, as well as the government’s inertia to effectively deal with th...
By Sanjay K Singh, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has taken serious note of the recent Gurjar-Meena stand-off over the formers’ demand for the Schedule Tribe tag, which resulted in the virtual siege of the capital city, as well as the government’s inertia to effectively deal with the breakdown of law and order.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incidents, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the concerned authorities to explain what actions have been taken or were proposed to be taken against the violent agitationists. The apex court observed that such an ugly agitation was a “national shame”.
A vacation bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice DK Jain said: “We direct the Director Generals of Police of the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to file affidavits in this court as to what actions have been taken and/or are proposed to be taken against the offenders.” Directing that the affidavits should be filed within 10 days, the court said the authorities shall also have to explain the causes for not taking any action against the unruly agitations.
The court in its order said, “It has come to our notice that in the last one week there has been large-scale destruction of public properties and no preventive action appears to have been taken. Unfortunately it does not prima facie appear that any action has been taken against the offenders who were responsible for the destruction of such properties.” The court taking a serious note of the visuals of the agitation shown on various TV channels, ordered that the footage should be supplied on the basis of which appropriate action could be taken. In this matter, it appointed senior counsel Rajeev Dhawan as amicus curaie to assist it. “Dr Dhawan may ask the concerned TV channels to provide the footage of the telecasts to police authorities.”
It took on record Dhawan’s submission that though people have the right to protest in some cases, it does not give them a license to destroy public property and indulge in acts of vandalism. “It is a national shame when hordes of people are destroying public and private properties,” it observed.
The court said such incidents had created considerable hardships for the general public and paralysed normal life. Justice Pasayat recalled that the apex court had earlier, in the case of certain protest demonstrations in Kerala, ordered the recovery of compensation from such mobsters. It then posted the matter for further hearing on June 18.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incidents, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the concerned authorities to explain what actions have been taken or were proposed to be taken against the violent agitationists. The apex court observed that such an ugly agitation was a “national shame”.
A vacation bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice DK Jain said: “We direct the Director Generals of Police of the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to file affidavits in this court as to what actions have been taken and/or are proposed to be taken against the offenders.” Directing that the affidavits should be filed within 10 days, the court said the authorities shall also have to explain the causes for not taking any action against the unruly agitations.
The court in its order said, “It has come to our notice that in the last one week there has been large-scale destruction of public properties and no preventive action appears to have been taken. Unfortunately it does not prima facie appear that any action has been taken against the offenders who were responsible for the destruction of such properties.” The court taking a serious note of the visuals of the agitation shown on various TV channels, ordered that the footage should be supplied on the basis of which appropriate action could be taken. In this matter, it appointed senior counsel Rajeev Dhawan as amicus curaie to assist it. “Dr Dhawan may ask the concerned TV channels to provide the footage of the telecasts to police authorities.”
It took on record Dhawan’s submission that though people have the right to protest in some cases, it does not give them a license to destroy public property and indulge in acts of vandalism. “It is a national shame when hordes of people are destroying public and private properties,” it observed.
The court said such incidents had created considerable hardships for the general public and paralysed normal life. Justice Pasayat recalled that the apex court had earlier, in the case of certain protest demonstrations in Kerala, ordered the recovery of compensation from such mobsters. It then posted the matter for further hearing on June 18.
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