Uttarkashi communal tensions: SC refuses to entertain urgent petition seeking ban on ‘mahapanchayat’

The vacation bench of Supreme Court refused to entertain the urgent petition to prevent ‘mahapanchayat’ proposed to be held in Purola, saying law and order is an issue of State and hence the petitioners should move to the High Court. 

The vacation bench of Supreme Court on June 14 refused to entertain the urgent petition to prevent ‘mahapanchayat’ proposed to be held in Purola in Uttarkashi amid communal tensions which was filed by Association for Protection of Civil Rights.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah while responding to lawyer who mentioned the unlisted matter said that law and order is an issue of State and hence the petitioners should move to the High Court. 

“Why there is a distrust of the High Court? They also have jurisdiction. You should have some trust. Why this short circuiting, we are not on merits or cause. Why do you distrust the administration?,” said Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah.

While mentioning the urgent application, advocate Sharukh Alam mentions that there is an extreme urgency for the court to interfere.

“There is a continuing mandamus issued against Uttarakhand to prevent hate speeches....there is an ultimatum given to a particular community to leave the place before a mahapanchayat,” he said.

The advocate added that a particular community has asked to leave by 15th.

An urgent letter petition was also filed by Delhi University professor Apoorvanand Jha and poet Ashok Vajpeyi in the Apex court requesting an immediate ban on mahapanchyat.