Delhi HC gives India govt a month to reply

The Statesman/ANN
The Delhi High Court hearing a plea demanding registration of FIRs against certain BJP leaders who allegedly made hate speeches thereby inciting violence in Northeast Delhi, yesterday gave the Centre four weeks to file its response in the case while making it a party in the matter.

A two-judge bench of justices DN Patel and C Harishankar listed the matter for further hearing on April 13.

The court was responding to a petition by retired bureaucrat Harsh Mander, who had sought a judicial enquiry into the incidents of violence, FIR against culprits, compensation for the riots' victims and deployment of Army in the affected areas.

As the hearing began, counsel for petitioner Harsh Mander — Colin Gonsalves — said protests against CAA were going on peacefully, barring some issues like traffic jams. However, the slogans raised in the hate speeches directed people to kill, he said.

"Goli Maaro (shoot the traitors) became the favourite slogan of a political party," he said, adding that they should be charged with murder, "no matter who they are".

He called for immediate FIRs against the ones who made hate speeches and said that "the decision of their arrest can be made later."

Earlier on Wednesday, a furious two-judge high court bench comprising Justices S Muralidhar and Talwant Singh, directed the Delhi Police to take a "conscious decision" on the registration of FIRs against three prominent political leaders for alleged hate speeches.

However, hours later, in a major turn of events, Justice Muralidhar was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which the Centre has termed as "routine affair".