The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the trial courts to expedite trials of alleged racial attack cases besides asking the Centre and Delhi Government to start a separate helpline within six weeks to address the problems of North-Eastern community. It also ordered the Police to deploy more personnel for patrolling with high concentration of this community to ensure security.
Division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also issued certain directions for the Central Government, the Delhi Police, and the NCT Government while expressing concern over the “disturbing trend” on violence against North-Eastern people here. The court ordered the trial courts to expedite the hearing of 26 cases that are pending from 4-5 years, related to harassment of North-Easterners, so that conviction, if any, can act as a deterrent. “No native of any State of India can be allowed to, by harassing, offending and by other criminal acts, prevent people from another State to settle and carry on any business or vocation therein,” the court said.
The bench also asked Centre to immediately take steps to recruit persons from the North-East to the Delhi Police and publicise the vacancy among all the North-Eastern States. The court also issued notice to all eight North-East States to implead them as a party in the case.
It also asked the Centre and the NCT Government to give thought to the possibility of bringing legislation for preventing the natives of one State from harassing in any manner the migrants from other States or from indulging in hate crimes against them. The bench further asked the Delhi Police to identify the discrepancy on delay in post-mortem reports and directed to take steps for ensuring that the reports reach the investigating officers immediately when furnished by the hospitals.