Lok Sabha discussion on Delhi riots set for March 11
HC adjourns till March 12 the hearing of petitions that sought registration of FIR against political leaders accused of hate speech that allegedly triggered the violence
Union Minister Amit Shah will reply in Parliament to a short-duration discussion on the violence in Delhi that killed over 50 people last week.
The discussion will take place on March 11, a day after the Holi holiday.
Om Birla, presiding officer of the lower house Lok Sabha, scheduled the discussion on a plea from the opposition.
Birla, upset with members seeking a discussion, has refused to return to the lower house despite an appeal by a group of MPS representing all parties.
Friday was the third straight day that Birla has stayed away from chairing proceedings in the Lok Sabha. He has been working from his chambers since Tuesday.
Floor leaders of all parties in the Lok Sabha, along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, met Birla at his office on Friday and appealed to him to return to the house. The speaker told the leaders that he will return only after all members maintain discipline and decide on how the session can be conducted smoothly.
On Thursday, Birla had suspended seven Congress members till April 3, the day the budget session ends. They were accused of disrupting the House as they pressed for a debate on the horrific violence that swept through northeast Delhi.
Calling the Speaker’s decision “revenge politics,” Congress leader of the house Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the party will “not let up.” Birla had declined a discussion on the argument that the time for such a discussion was “not right.” Reports said the Speaker has proposed a committee to look into the behaviour of MPS inside the Lok Sabha and invite fresh rules to take action against any unruly act.
The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned till March 12 the hearing of petitions that sought registration first information reports (FIRS) against political leaders accused of hate speech that allegedly triggered the violence.a division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C. Harishankar asked the Central government, Delhi Police, and other respondents to file their response before March 12.
A high court bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and IS Mehta meanwhile directed all hospitals with victims of violence in northeast Delhi to videograph the autopsy of those killed in the clashes. The DNA samples of the all the deceased must be preserved till the next hearing.
No unidentified body should be disposed of until then, the judges ordered. The bench was hearing a habeas corpus plea by a man seeking the whereabouts of his brother-in-law who went missing during the riots. The court was informed by the police that the body of the missing person, Hamza, was recovered from a drain at Gokulpuri on Monday and his post-mortem would be conducted during the day at the RML Hospital.
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday had directed the High Court to hear the petitions on hate speech on Friday. The High Court had earlier adjourned them till April 13. The apex court pointed out that an adjournment for a month was not justifiable.
The Delhi government on Friday announced a Rs500,000 compensation to people whose houses were completely gutted in the North East Delhi violence. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, said his government had also approved Rs250,000 for houses that were substantially damaged in arson.
The decision was taken in cabinet meet which took place on Thursday The Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal will also launch a two-day verification drive for the release of compensation for the victims.
Sisodia said a Rs1 million compensation would be given to damaged schools that have up to 1,000 student enrolment.
On Wednesday, the top court also condemned the High Court’s long adjournment of the case, saying delay in such matters is “unjustified.” “We think that adjournment of such long period (by the High Court) is unjustified. We also do not want to assume jurisdiction of HC when it is seized of the matter,” Justice Bobde said, heading a bench that also comprised Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant.