Uttarakhand High Court Condemns Roorkee Firing Incident as Shameful and Unforgivable

The Uttarakhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of a violent incident in Roorkee involving independent MLA Umesh Kumar and former BJP MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion. The court described the event as disgraceful and unacceptable. It has instructed the Haridwar district magistrate and senior superintendent of police to enforce strict measures against those involved.

On Sunday, Champion, accompanied by his supporters, allegedly fired shots at Kumar's office in Khanpur, Roorkee. In response, Kumar also brandished a gun. The high court expressed its disapproval of such displays of power in Devbhoomi, labelling them as shameful and unforgivable.

High Court's Directives and Legal Proceedings

The vacation bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal highlighted the non-compliance with the Supreme Court's order in Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs Union of India. This order provides guidelines to curb the criminalisation of politics. On Tuesday, the high court summoned the Haridwar DM and SSP via video conferencing for a post-lunch session.

During the session, the DM and SSP reported that both current MLA Kumar and former MLA Champion had been arrested. While Champion remains in jail, Kumar has been released on bail. The authorities have also revoked their arms licences and are considering withdrawing their security details.

Pending Cases and Future Hearings

It was revealed that both leaders have 19 pending cases each in various courts. The high court has scheduled the next hearing for February 12, instructing the DM and SSP to continue taking stringent actions against the accused. Additionally, the court requested a detailed report on their criminal histories.

On Monday, a Roorkee court ordered Champion to 14 days of judicial custody for allegedly firing at Kumar's office. Meanwhile, another court granted bail to Kumar, who had retaliated by wielding a gun during the altercation.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about political violence and law enforcement's role in maintaining order. The high court's intervention aims to ensure accountability and adherence to legal standards in such matters.