The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will monitor the probe into the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh as well as the relief and rehabilitation work in the riot-affected areas. The apex court also transferred to itself a PIL concerning the riots filed in the Allahabad high court.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a report on the steps taken by it to prevent the violence and provide help and relief to the victims. The bench, also comprising Justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, said it will pass necessary directions if required. “We are not closing the writ petition. Till the end we will monitor the development,” the bench said.
During the hearing, the Centre assured the court that it is committed to provide all assistance to the state government. “I am making an unconditional statement that whatsoever is needed by the state government, whether it is a financial assistance or
security personnel, will be provided by the Centre,” attorney-general G.E. Vahanvati said. “No blame game on this. It is a human tragedy and we have to move forward,” he submitted.
The court after hearing the arguments of the Centre, state government and the petitioners listed, the case for hearing on September 26.
The bench, however, warned the advocates that they should not file petitions and applications just for the sake of filing. It said if they are really interested in restoring communal harmony, they should try to help the victims and not indulge in publicity.
“Are you here really for helping the affected families or merely for publicity? How many writ petitions and applications we will go into,” the bench asked when one or the other lawyers were making submission. The bench also said it would not allow more pleas and those having any grievance can make representation to the counsel for Uttar Pradesh, who are appearing in the case.
The court was hearing PILs filed by a group of residents of riots-affected areas and Supreme Court Bar Association seeking a CBI inquiry into the incident.