SC: Shaheen Bagh Hearing Postponed, Scope Not to be Expanded to Delhi Violence
Image Courtesy: The Indian Express
The Supreme Court on Wednesday postponed the hearing in the Shaheen Bagh matter till March 23. It also refused to entertain pleas in the matter.
On the fourth day after incidents of rampant violence in parts of Delhi, the apex court it as unfortunate but said it will not expand the scope of petitions filed connection with the Shaheen Bagh protests by looking into pleas on violence.
The apex court disposed applications related to the incidents of violence and said that it was for the Delhi High Court (HC) to take note of the matter. The SC further said that it is for law enforcing administration to ensure environment is conducive. The court said that the police doesn't have to wait for orders if someone makes inflammatory statements but act in accordance with law.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the apex court that the Delhi High Court (HC) has heard pleas connected with the violence.
While hearing the matter, a bench of Justices S.K. Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph said that there was lack of professionalism on part of police. Justice Joseph gave the example of police in the U.S. and the U.K. saying that security forces have to act professionally as per law if something goes wrong. These things would not have happened had police not allowed instigators to get away, the apex court observed.
Mehta asked the court to not make any adverse observations relating to the situation as it would demoralise the police force. The apex court said that it has nothing against Delhi Police but is making remarks keeping in mind larger perspective. The court told Mehta not to misunderstand the bench's views as it was making the remarks keeping in mind long-term implications.
On the matter of the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh, the apex court justified appointing interlocutors saying that it was an out-of-the-box solution. The bench said there is need for magnanimity and for the situation to cool down before Shaheen Bagh issue is taken up. It set the next date for hearing of the Shaheen Bagh matter on March 23, close to a month later.
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