Bulldozers are being used to demolish illegally constructed residence of Javed Ahmed, a local leader, in Prayagraj, Sunday, June 12, 2022, allegedly against the remarks of now-suspended BJP leaders on Prophet Muhammad. was the main conspirator of the violent protests.
Former judges and senior advocates have written to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana asking them to take suo moto cognizance of alleged incidents of illegal detention, bulldozers on residences and police crackdown on protesters agitating against some objectionable remarks made by BJP spokespersons. has urged.
The letter signed by him read, “The letter petition is being presented as an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court of India to take cognizance of the recent incidents of violence and repression by the state authorities on the citizens of Uttar Pradesh. ” It further said that the recent comments made by some BJP spokespersons (after being suspended from office) on Prophet Mohammad have resulted in protests in many parts of the country, especially in UP.
The letter petition has been signed by former apex court judge Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, Justice V Gopala Gowda and former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AK Ganguly, former Madras High Court judge Justice K Chandru and former Karnataka judge. High Court Mohammad Anwar. Senior advocates who signed the letter petition include senior advocates Shanti Bhushan, Indira Jaising, CU Singh, Sriram Panchu, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Grover.
It said, “Instead of giving an opportunity to the protesters to be heard and to join in peaceful protests, the UP state administration has sanctioned violent action against such persons. The chief minister has reportedly officially called upon the authorities to take such action against the culprits so that it sets an example so that no one commits crimes or takes the law into their own hands in future.
It said that the UP CM has further directed that the National Security Act, 1980 and the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 be invoked against those found guilty of unlawful protests. The letter petition states that these comments have encouraged the police to brutally and unlawfully torture the protesters.
“In pursuance of this, the UP Police has arrested over 300 people and registered an FIR against the protesting citizens. Videos of youths in police custody being beaten up with sticks, houses of protesters being demolished without any notice or reason and protesters from minority Muslim community being chased and beaten up by the police are being circulated on social media, which strikes a chord with their conscience. Shaking up. nation”, it added.
It said such brutal repression by the ruling administration is an unacceptable subversion of the rule of law and violation of the rights of citizens, and makes a mockery of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the state. “The competence of the judiciary is tested in such critical times. On several occasions, including in the recent past, the judiciary has faced such challenges and has emerged as a custodian of the rights of the people. Some recent examples are the suo motu actions taken by the Supreme Court in the migrant workers case and the Pegasus case.
The petition further stated, “In the same spirit, and its role as the custodian of the Constitution, therefore, we urge the Supreme Court to take immediate action to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, particularly involving the high-handedness of the police and state officials, and brutal repression on the fundamental rights of citizens. We hope and believe that the Supreme Court will rise to the occasion and not bring down the citizens and the Constitution at this critical juncture. Will let go
Read also | CJI Ramana reminds of ‘Lakshman Rekha’ during meeting with PM, Chief Ministers; Regrets on misuse of PILs
Read also | Anti-encroachment drive: Bulldozers enter South Delhi’s New Friends Colony, Mangolpuri