The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the assistance of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi in deciding what should be the approach of the court to deal with offenders who cause large-scale damage to public property.
Hearing a case against Patidar Andolan leader Hardik Patel, who is facing this charge following the public stir caused by his outfit — Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) demanding quota for Patels in the State, the Bench of Justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan decided to take a comprehensive look on the offence. The Bench’s decision is significant since in the past, the apex court examined the issue and felt that persons who give a call for protest that subsequently results in loss of public property running into crores of rupees should not be let off lightly.
Patel is facing the twin charges of sedition and destruction of public property in which chargesheet has been filed in a Gujarat court. The Bench directed Gujarat police to provide an English translation of the chargesheet in Gujarati to Hardik by January 27 and posted the case for hearing on February 3.