‘Let panel work’: SC on plea seeking Amit Shah, Delhi Police chief’s role in protest case
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday shared the five-member high-powered enquiry committee (HPEC), headed by its former judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, should be allowed to conduct its independent inquiry into allegations of excessive use of force during the July 20 protest in Delhi, even as petitioners sought its reconstitution and a wider probe into the alleged role of Union home minister Amit Shah and some other senior government and police functionaries.
Adding to this, The court also urged the petitioners to allow the committee to begin its work. (File image) The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who sought an early listing of an application filed by the petitioners seeking reconstitution of the committee. The CJI shared the application would be listed.
Meanwhile, “Whosoever will work, they will work under the direct supervision of this court. We have not disposed of the matter and will monitor everything,” shared the CJI.
Notably, The court also urged the petitioners to allow the committee to begin its work and raise any concerns before the court as the inquiry progresses.
As per the latest buzz, “Sometimes, we have to also work under some constraints like availability and other factors. You all are also there to assist the committee and can point out to us as and when there are concerns. Let them work and see how they perform,” added the CJI.
In further updates, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, opposed the application, describing it as “mischievous” and objecting to the petitioners’ demand for reconstitution of the committee. When Sankaranarayanan shared the petitioners were only seeking listing of the application, Mehta pointed out that it also named judges whom the petitioners wanted on the panel, apart from seeking probe against certain ministers.
On top of that, “We don’t appreciate mentioning names of the judges like this,” the CJI told Sankaranarayanan.
At this point, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for another petitioner, shared there were “some misgivings” among petitioners but stressed that they were pursuing a common cause.
Source: Hindustan Times