Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought city Government’s response to its Cabinet decision to accord “martyr” status to the Rajasthan farmer who had allegedly hanged himself at an AAP rally at Jantar Mantar in April. The court listed the matter for further hearing on September 2.
After a copy of the Cabinet decision was placed before the court by a petitioner advocate, a Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath asked the counsel for the Delhi Government to file an affidavit in the case.
Petitioner advocate Avadh Kaushik had challenged the Cabinet decision saying suicide was a crime and cannot be glorified. During arguments, Kaushik contended that the farmer’s act of committing suicide cannot be glorified by granting him the status of a martyr as he had committed a crime.
The court on May 6 had sought the city Government’s response to a PIl challenging its decision to declare Kalyanwat as a martyr. The PIl has sought directions restraining the Government “from glorifying, justifying, supporting, propagating and consecrating the act of suicide committed by the politician- cum-farmer on April 22, 2015 at Jantar Mantar.”
In his plea, the petitioner has also opposed the city Government’s move to launch a Farmers’ Compensation Scheme in the name of Kalyanwat, apart from promising Government job to one of his kin on compassionate ground.
“This act of Delhi Government was nothing but an effort to glorify, justify, praise, support and consecrate the act of suicide, attempt thereof itself is an offence under section 309 of Indian Penal Code, 1860,” the petition said.
It has also contended that the Government’s decision was also “a kind of abetment and temptation to others to commit such a criminal and cowardly act which is not only prejudicial to public interest but also a hostile attitude to the sanctity of life and thus, nobody, what to talk about the government, can support and glorify such an act.”
The incident had occurred during an Aam Aadmi Party’s rally against the land Acquisition Bill on April 28 when the Rajasthan farmer, Gajendra Singh Kalyanwat, hung himself from a tree at the Jantar Mantar venue here.
The city Government, represented by advocate Raman Duggal, said an FIR was lodged in the matter and probe was going on.The court, however, asked the Delhi Government to say whatever it has to on affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on September 2.
The petition has also sought directions to the Delhi Police to “not grant any permission to any person, party or group to stage any kind of ‘dharna’ or protest at Jantar Mantar” in future.
The plea also opposed the police’s decision to “invite and welcome public at large, by way of advertisement,” to come to Jantar Mantar and stage protests there, saying the police should instead prohibit and restrain such activities at the historic monument meant and maintained for tourism.
