Single judge verdict incorrect, stay welcome: Left

New Delhi, April 6 (UNI) Welcoming the Allahabad High Court judgement staying the derecognition of Muslims as a minority community in Uttar Pradesh, Left parties today said the single judge verdict was "incorrect" and in contravention of the constitutional framework.

The senior leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and Forward Bloc told UNI that the state could not be taken as a unit and the issue should be decided taking the national perspective into consideration.

CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi said it was proper on the part of the larger bench to withold the single judge verdict, while CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the issue needed more debate at an appropriate level.

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau also issued a statement saying that the single judge bench decree was a ''wrong and baseless verdict. It is surprising that such judgments are emanating from the higher judiciary, which goes contrary to the basic facts and established law.'' Hailing the stay on the single judgement, the CPI leaders said, ''If the larger bench had not intervened, then it was the responsibility of the apex court to take a suo motu notice of the judgement and declare it null and nullfied.'' Mr Bardhan and Mr Faizi said it is necessary that a fresh assessment of the judges appointed during the NDA regime is taken and correctives are applied.

Mr Yechury, also a Rajya Sabha MP, stated that the Court itself had stayed the single judge judgment. ''In fact neither the Constitution nor the Constitution Assembly identifies any particular religious community based on a particular state.'' The CPI(M) leader said the identification of religious minority or any other social category is based on the all India situation.

EDS : Pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI