SC dismisses petition seeking action against Gujjar agitators

New Delhi, Jun 19 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking appropriate action against the Gujjar agitators demanding ST status in Rajasthan and ensure that the people of the state are not put to hardships and harrassment.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and G S Singhvi told the petitioner Lakhan Singh that he had come to the apex court only because the Rajasthan High Court had fixed the matter for hearing on July 3. ''There is nothing wrong in it,''the bench held.

The petitioner's counsel had earlier pleaded before the court that nobody can be allowed to hold a state to ransom under the guise of demanding democratic rights and the role of the state under these circumstances also deserves to be looked into as the government has failed to discharge its duty to protect the life and property of its people as well as public property.

The petition also lost its utility in view of the settlement arrived at between the Rajasthan government and the Gujjars to provide 5 per cent reservation to the Gujjars as special category.

The State government has also announced 14 per cent reservation for the poor among the upper castes in the state.

UNI SC ARB RP NS1700