The Chhattisgarh Government will give an advance notice of four weeks to Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar and others who are facing probe if it wants to proceed with the murder case of a tribal in the State.
Apprehending arrest, Sundar along with JNU professor Archana Prasad, Vineet Tiwari of Delhi-based NGO Joshi Adhikar Sansthan, Chhattisgarh CPI(M) State secretary Sanjay Parate, among others, had approached the Supreme Court.
The assurance came from the State Government by way of an oral undertaking that the petitioners will not be arrested or interrogated without prior notice. Recording the statement in its order, the bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Adarsh K Goel said, “ASG Tushar Mehta says that Nandini Sundar, Archana Prasad, Vineet Tiwari and others will not be arrested or interrogated. State Government is directed to give four weeks advance notice before proceeding in the case. liberty to petitioners to approach court after the notice is served.”
Sundar’s lawyer senior advocate Ashok Desai demanded that the State must take prior permission from apex court before any arrest or interrogation. Declining the request, the Bench said, “The police can’t be stopped perpetually. If there is a crime, they need to proceed. It is their statutory right. They will first give you notice and then they can proceed.” The petitioners got concession to approach the Court if any notice of arrest or interrogation is served upon them.
On November 7, Sundar along with others was booked on charges of murder of a tribal villager Baghel in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. An FIR was lodged against her on a complaint by his wife under section 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 and 149 of IPC at Tongpal police station.