New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Save India Foundation seeking directions to the Delhi Police to initiate criminal action against persons allegedly involved in arson, attacks on police personnel and damage to public property during the July 20 Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, however, granted the petitioner liberty to approach the competent authorities and directed them to consider its representation in accordance with law.
“We are of the opinion that in view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in respect of damage to public properties and the 2018 judgment, we permit the petitioner to represent its cause before the authorities concerned. The representation shall be attended to and an appropriate decision, as warranted under law, shall be taken. The decision shall be communicated to the petitioner,” the Bench said.
The PIL had sought a direction to the Delhi Police to take prompt criminal action against those allegedly involved in violence during the July 20 protest, including physical attacks on police personnel and damage to public property. It also sought recovery of the cost of the damage from those found responsible.
According to the petition, the Delhi Police failed to take preventive steps despite receiving advance representations warning about the proposed gathering at sensitive locations in central Delhi, including Jantar Mantar, the Parliament area and India Gate. It alleged that no effective action had been taken against those responsible even after the violence.
The petition further claimed that the July 20 protest led to lawlessness in parts of New Delhi, with protesters allegedly attacking police personnel, damaging public property and creating panic around Parliament. It alleged that despite the availability of CCTV footage, news reports and social media videos, the police had failed to initiate appropriate action against the alleged offenders.
The Save India Foundation also stated that it had submitted representations to the Delhi Police before the proposed protest seeking preventive measures and had approached the High Court before the June 6 mobilisation. However, it claimed that the matter was not urgently listed after the Court was informed that adequate arrangements had been made by the Delhi Police. (ANI)
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