SC gives 2 weeks to TN govt to respond on law college violence

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court today askedthe Tamil Nadu Government to spell out the steps taken by itagainst policemen who remained a mute spectator during a clashbetween two group of students at the Chennai-based Dr AmbedkarLaw College in 2008.

The apex court also asked the state government toinform it about the action taken by it against the erringstudents and whether anyone has been arrested in connectionwith the violence.

A bench comprising justices B Sudershan Reddy and S SNijjar asked the Tamil Nadu government to file a reportspecifying whether any departmental action has been takenagainst the cops on the basis of the recommendation of reportof the inquiry committee headed by a retired high court judgeset up after the incident.

The bench sought the response within two weeks andposted the matter for March 11.

The court was hearing a petition filed by two humanrights activists -- K Saravanan and S Prabhavathi -- allegingharassment by the state government and its police for takingup the cause of human rights violation in the incident.

The two activists alleged they were booked in falsecharges of cheating and forgery by the Tamil Nadu police fortaking up with the rights panels the incident.

The state government, in its counter-affidavit,informed the Supreme Court that disciplinary action has beenrecommended against the delinquent police officials whoremained a mute spectator even as the mediapersons witnessingincident asked them to take action.

In reply to the state''s counter affidavit, the rightactivists submitted before the court that mere disciplinaryproceedings against the delinquent police officials will notbe sufficient.

They, through their advocate Prashant Bhushan, alsotold the court that the Tamil Nadu government and the statepolice have deliberately chosen not to file the copy of thereport about the action taken against the police officials andthe students who had beaten up three students, who had come tothe college to appear in an examination.

The court had issued notice to the state governmenton the petition filed by rights activists K Saravanan and SPrabhavathi on December 13 last.

It had sought a response from the National Human RightCommission and Tamil Nadu''s State Human Right Commission forallegedly not taking adequate action on their complaints.

The petitioners had said the three students, who hadcome to the college to appear in an examination, were attackedby an armed gang of over two dozen ''students-cum-miscreants'',supported by the state''s ruling party, in the college premisesright in front of over 40 policemen and officials who didnothing to rescue them and remained mute spectators. PTIAKI RKS