Delhi Violence: SC asks HC to hear plea tomorrow

The Indian Supreme Court yesterday asked the Delhi High Court to hear tomorrow a plea seeking lodging of FIRs against some BJP leaders for alleged hate speeches which purportedly led to recent violence here and said it may also explore the possibility of "peaceful resolution" of the dispute".

The apex court, which said it "wants to see if peace is possible", observed that adjournment of hearing by the High Court for "such a long period" in April on separate petitions related to the violence in northeast Delhi was not "justified" and such matters should not be delayed for long.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde requested the Chief Justice of the High Court to dispose of these matters "as expeditiously as possible" on their own merits and in accordance with law and also prepone the hearing on other related pleas.

The bench, also comprising justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, directed that the hearing on other connected matters along with all the applications for impleadment and intervention on the issue, which have been adjourned to a later date by High Court, may be advanced and be taken up on March 6.

The bench passed the order while hearing a plea filed by 10 victims seeking registration of FIRs against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Verma and Abhay Verma and others for their alleged hate speeches.

"The High Court may also explore the possibility of peaceful resolution of the subject dispute," the bench said in its order.

However, the apex court kept to itself the issue related to the allegations of hate speech by activist Harsh Mander, who has also filed a separate plea before it related to the violence in which at least 42 people lost their lives and around 200 injured.

It asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to file an affidavit during the day on behalf of Centre giving details regarding allegations of hate speech delivered by Mander, who had purportedly made objectionable comments during anti-CAA protests about the Supreme Court, Government and Parliament.

Mehta told the bench that Mander had "instigated anti-CAA protestors saying that ultimately justice will be done on the streets and the petition in the apex court has been filed for the sake of filing".

Mander's lawyer, Karuna Nundy, vehemently denied the allegations and said he had not made any hate speech.

 The court, however, was of the view that unless the issue of alleged hate speech is "not sorted", it will not allow Mander's counsel to argue his petition which will now be heard by the top court itself on March 6.