SC notice to Maha govt on plea seeking protection of citizens

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Maharashtra government on a petition seeking protection to life and property of all citizens in the wake of recent attacks against the north Indians allegedly by Raj Thackeray-led MNS activists.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan sought a reply from the state government on allegations that it had failed to take effective steps to check violence.

Though the notice was issued only to the Maharashtra government, the petitioner has sought a direction for the Centre to exercise its power under Article 355 of the Constitution to give necessary instructions to the state authorities.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Delhi-based trader Salek Chand Jain, who complained that the attacks on north Indians allegedly by the MNS has led to a chain reaction elsewhere in the country and that it threatened to destroy the nation's unity and integrity.