By India Blooms News Service Aug 03, 2023
New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court on Wednesday interrupted a hearing by a bench that can rule on Constitutional matters to hear a petition seeking a ban on rallies held by right-wing groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), NDTV reported.
The bench comprising at least five judges was interrupted as Chief Justice DY Chandrachud rostered an urgent hearing for a petition on the riots in Haryanas Nuh district on Wednesday, said the report.
The bench was discussing now rescinded Article 370, which gave special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir.
On Wednesday morning, CU Singh, the lawyer representing petitioner journalist Shaheen Abdullah, sought an expedited hearing from Justice Aniruddha Bose, in the aftermath of the violence that resulted in six fatalities, including two security personnel, and caused extensive vandalism and arson, the report said.
Following the advice of Justice Bose to approach Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Singh presented the case before him, stressing the urgency of immediate intervention after the violence that occurred, resulting in six fatalities, including two security personnel, and widespread vandalism and arson.
At first, the Chief Justice was asked to consider the case in the morning, but during lunchtime, CU Singh reiterated the urgency of the matter.
In response, Chief Justice Chandrachud, leading the Constitution bench, examined the applications documents in his chamber and promptly formed a special bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti, instructing the registry to list the matter for hearing at 2 pm, the report said citing sources.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a member of the Constitution bench, participated in the Nuh case hearing, which concluded at 2:15 pm. The Constitution bench resumed the hearing on Article 370 at 2:20 pm.
In response to the petition regarding the Nuh situation, the Supreme Court issued directives to both the Central and state governments to take preventive measures against any hate speech or violence during marches organized by the VHP and Bajrang Dal following the communal clashes in Nuh.
Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SV Bhatti ordered the deployment of additional police or paramilitary forces and the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas.
The communal violence in Nuh resulted in six deaths, including two home guards, when a mob attempted to halt a VHP procession on July 31.
In response to the situation, the state government has arrested 116 people and the VHP and Bajrang Dal have organized 23 demonstrations across the National Capital Region (NCR).