The Uttar Pradesh Government’s discrimination in relocation of those affected by the Muzaffarnagar riots drew sharp criticism from the Supreme Court on Thursday.
A notification issued by the State last month said that the relocation scheme for riot victims was available only to Muslims. The bench directed the Government to immediately withdraw its order. “Because of this attitude, we are forced to issue a notice on a petition by the Jat Mahasabha and others,” said the bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, which is monitoring relief and rehabilitation of victims displaced after the riots.
At present, over 5,000 people are still in camps, unable to return to their villages, fearing threat to their lives and property. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who represented the UP Government, agreed that the expression “only Muslims” was disturbing and assured that the State will withdraw the same and issue a fresh notification extending relocation benefits to all families, including Hindus.
However, the bench, also comprising Justices Ranjana Desai and Ranjan Gogoi pointed out: “It should not have come so in the notification. You better withdraw the notification. It must be irrespective of religion or community.” The court also issued a notice on a separate petition filed by one Ravindra Kumar, whose son, along with a maternal cousin was brutally killed by Muslim youths, triggering clashes between the two communities in Muzaffarnagar. Kumar petitioned that he was being pressurized by the cops to surrender his complaint.
“It is a serious matter,” the bench said after learning that the Investigating Officer of the case had put pressure on the petitioner to withdraw the complaint and buy peace. “The petitioner Ravindra Kumar has expressed apprehensions. Check all papers. We are concerned with the grievances,” said the bench.
The court issued a notice on the petition seeking the response of the UP Government by the next date of hearing on December 12. The Court reminded the State that while re-issuing the notification in question, no such condition must be placed on any particular community restricting their choice to relocate. Muslim groups informed the court that the notification under challenge was wrong as Muslims were forced to relocate on receiving a sum of Rs 5-lakh. Many Muslim families wished to return to their village but feared reprisal from the majority Hindu population.