Gujjar: SC declines to issue order to police chiefs

New Delhi, June 11: The Supreme Court today declined to issue any direction to the police chiefs of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi not to harass innocent Gujjars saying that such directions can not be issued by the court.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and P P Naolekar also refused to take up the petition of the Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Vikas Sangathan with the main case which is fixed for hearing on June 18.

On June 5, taking suo motu action, the apex court had sought an explanation from the heads of the police in the four states to explain what action was taken or proposed to be taken against those who damaged public and private property during the week-long agitation by the Gujjars demanding ST status in Rajasthan.

Earlier, counsel for the petitioner, Surat Singh, contended before the court that the police was harassing and torturing innocent Gujjar youth under the pretext of implementing the directions of the court issued on June 5 and police officers should be directed not to do so.

He also contended that a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the incidents of causing damage to public and private property during the agitation and only guilty should be punished.

The court made it clear that it can not issue any such direction and said, '' if you are innocent go and tell the police that you are innocent.'' During the agitation, thousands of passengers were stranded at railway stations and bus stands due to disruption in railway and public transport movement and railway tracks were removed at some places by the agitators. Terming the damage to public and private property as national shame the court took serious note of the happenings during the agitation and sought an explanation from the heads of police department of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as the court felt that there was dereliction of duty on the part of the police in these states and agitators were allowed to hold the public to ransom which can not be permitted.

UNI

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