Krishnadas Rajagopal New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned the heat on BJP-ruled Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to take “corrective measures” against the peddling of communal hate in ‘dharam sansad’ events and warned that the Chief Secretaries of the two States will be held responsible for any “untoward statements” made during these programmes.
A Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and the police in these States were “bound” to stop hate crimes and follow the preventive and punitive measures against hate crimes laid down by the Supreme Court in its judgments.
“We want to see you take corrective measures... These events do not take place overnight. Advance notice is given... Please explain what preventive action you have taken, and did you take action against those responsible after that?” Justice Khanwilkar addressed the State counsel for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said a ‘dharam sansad’ was scheduled at Roorkee in Uttarakhand on Wednesday. He showed the court the purported communal statements made by speakers in an earlier event which took place in Himachal Pradesh between April 17 and 19.
“They are not taking action despite judgments from this court... These events are happening in different places,” Mr. Sibal submitted.
‘FIRs filed’
Counsel for Uttarakhand said FIRs had been filed in the case of earlier events of similar nature. He said two communities “who are at loggerheads with each other” were both holding such events. The State had taken action in the past without any communal bias. He said preventive action against untoward statements being made in the Roorkee event were under way. “We do not know what they will say in their speeches... But we are taking steps... Your Lordships may have faith in us,” the lawyer said.
“There is no problem of trust... The doctrine of trust is applicable 24x7. But we want action and we want to see you take corrective measures and not explain yourselves here in court,” Justice Khanwilkar responded.
The Uttarakhand lawyers said the “community he (Mr. Sibal) is trying to protect is also holding events”.
“This is not the way you (State of Uttarakhand) present yourself here... And if you are so confident about yourself, we will hold your Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Inspector-General concerned responsible,” Justice Khanwilkar said.
The court ordered the Himachal Pradesh Home Secretary to file an affidavit by May 7 on the action taken, in terms of the Supreme Court judgments, against those responsible for making hate speeches in the State.
അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളൊന്നുമില്ല:
ഒരു അഭിപ്രായം പോസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യൂ