Shoots down demand for CBI probe; orders more compensation for rape victims
In a clear indictment of the Akhilesh Yadav Government’s handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held the State machinery prima facie responsible for failing to prevent the communal clashes in which as many as 47 people were killed.
However, the Supreme Court (SC) turned down the demand to shift the investigation of riot cases from UP Police to the CBI or Special Investigation Team and ordered additional compensation for rape victims.
With the lok Sabha polls round the corner, this was the last thing the Samajwadi Party wanted or had expected, considering that the wounds inflicted by the riots are still fresh.Reacting to SC’s ruling, the BJP’s UP unit demanded Akhilesh’s resignation. The party said the Akhilesh Yadav Government has no right to continue in office.
“The State Government has lost the moral right to continue in office after Wednesday’s orders by the apex court,” the BJP said in its Press statement.
“The State unit president of the BJP, laxmikant Bajpai will meet Governor Bl Joshi to request him to recommend dismissal of the SP Government,” spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said in lucknow.
The detailed order passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam held both the Centre and the State Government’s Intelligence agencies responsible for failing to alert the administration about possible communal clashes.
“Had the Central and State Intelligence agencies smelt these problems in advance and alerted the district administration, the unfortunate incidents could have been prevented,” said the bench, which also comprised Justices Ranjana Desai and Ranjan Gogoi. “After the Mahapanchayat that took place on September 7, 2013, certain incidents such as eve teasing of girls followed by murders had taken place,” it said.
later, when thousands of people gathered at a particular place to retaliate, the SC said it was expected of the State Intelligence agencies to apprise the State Government and district administration in particular, to prevent such communal violence.
In the 11 status reports of the State, the SC found no “authoritative” information on advance intimation of the riots. “Thus, we prima facie hold the State Government responsible for being negligent at the initial stage in not anticipating the communal violence and for taking necessary steps for its prevention,” the bench held.
At the same time, the statistics supplied by the State said that a Special Investigation Cell formed to probe the riots had made substantial progress and led to arrests of people from both communities, including certain politicians, irrespective of their political affiliation.
Although the State’s probe into six rape cases and recovery of AK-47s in Kirthal Village was found wanting, the bench did not order a CBI probe or SIT investigation considering that six months had elapsed and 50 police teams were trying to arrest the accused.
The SC however ordered the State to pay an additional compensation of Rs five lakh to rape victims within four weeks. This would be in addition to other beneficial schemes and security cover to victims, it said. In addition, the State was also asked to compensate parents of children who died in relief camps due to the cold and to make arrangements for families willing to re-settle in their parent villages. In such cases, the SC said that the State will not insist on recovering compensation already paid.