Jat arson: ‘Won’t withdraw any criminal case till July 11’
The undertaking was given in the high court by state advocate general BR Mahajan following objections from amicus curiae Anupam Gupta in the suo motu petition
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Tuesday assured the Punjab and Haryana high court that it will not pursue withdrawal of 407 FIRs till mid-July — next date of hearing before the HC — in the pro-quota violence case of February 2016. The undertaking was given by state advocate general BR Mahajan after objections from amicus curiae, senior advocate Anupam Gupta in the suo motu petition. 2,105 FIRs were registered after February 2016 Jat quota violence.
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Tuesday assured the Punjab and Haryana high court that it will not pursue withdrawal of 407 FIRs till mid-July — next date of hearing before the HC — in the pro-quota violence case of February 2016.
The undertaking was given by state advocate general BR Mahajan after objections from amicus curiae, senior advocate Anupam Gupta in the suo motu petition.
A total of 2,105 FIRs were registered by Haryana after February 2016 Jat quota violence. As per Gupta, out of 407 cases proposed to be withdrawn by the state, 129 were such which were termed serious by Prakash Singh committee, a panel formed by the state government to examine the role of officials during violence.
Around 30 people had died and public and private property worth thousands of crores was damaged during the violent protests that lasted more than a week.
In June 2017, the government had proposed to withdraw 137 cases. A fresh list of 240 was submitted during the Tuesday’s hearing.
In February 2018, the government had held meetings with Jat leaders on withdrawal of cases after the latter had threatened to hold a parallel rally in Jind, where national BJP chief Amit Shah was to hold a rally on February 15.
After several rounds of parleys, including some sessions with state chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and an assurance on withdrawal of 70-odd FIRs, Jats withdrew their plan to disrupt Shah’s rally.
‘CASES BEING WITHDRAWN TO ACHIEVE PEACE: GOVT’
Without any reference to talks between Jat leaders and the government, the state has said that in the cases where withdrawal of cases has been proposed, representations were made to local authorities following which the gravity of offence was examined. With the objective to achieve broader cause of peace among various communities, bringing brotherhood, harmony and peace, these cases are proposed to be withdrawn, the state told the court.
Gupta opposed the move of the government stating that 20% of cases are being withdrawn in some cases where some people have been booked for dacoity.
He demanded that the state be restrained from withdrawing these cases in view of the colossal damage caused during the violence and the kind of violence that was reported.
He also referred to alleged Murthal gangrapes, breach effected in Munak canal, which carries water to Delhi and burning of government and private properties in Rohtak and Jhajjar including police stations, banks and properties of state finance minister Captain Abhimanyu. The Munak canal breach case and arson at finance minister Capt Abimanyu’s house are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Mahajan, however, said the government has examined each case and further scrutiny would be carried by trial courts, wherever closure reports are filed. “It (violence) was of great magnitude. As cases came, FIRs were registered. So, now some being withdrawn,” Mahajan submitted.
However, the bench of acting chief justice AK Mittal and justice TS Dhindsa agreed with the submissions of Gupta. In view of this, Mahajan made a statement that the government will not withdraw cases till the next date of hearing on July 11.