The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted the Central government and Delhi Police four weeks time to file replies to a public interest litigation seeking action against hate speeches by BJP leaders that allegedly triggered communal violence in Delhi.
The Delhi High Court also allowed the impleadment of the Centre in the PIL that sought lodging of FIRs over the violence in Delhi since Monday, which has left at least 33 people dead. The plea was filed by activist Harsh Mander.
The bench of Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Hari Shankar was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that 48 FIRS had already been lodged in connection with the violence in Delhi. Giving more time to the Centre and Delhi Police, the Delhi High Court adjourned the matter to April 13.
Mehta argued there be no judicial intervention till normalcy is restored in the national capital. Mehta argued the 48 FIRs had been lodged in connection to arson, looting and the deaths in the communal violence that erupted over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Mehta argued the time was not “conducive” to file FIR over the hate speeches. “The condition is not conducive at this moment. FIRs will be registered at an appropriate time,” Mehta was quoted by Bar and Bench as telling the Delhi High Court.
Representing Mander in the case, lawyer Colin Gonsalves asked for a “closer date” to hear the matter, arguing that “10-12 people were dying every day”.
Gonsalves said goli maaro (shoot them) had become a “favourite slogan” of BJP leaders. Gonsalves demanded that those accused of hate speech be charged with murder.
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court heard hate speeches made by four BJP members related to the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act—Union Minister Anurag Thakur, MP Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra and Abhay Verma.
While Mishra has been accused of making a provocative speech at Maujpur earlier this week, the others were accused of making controversial remarks before the Delhi polls.