SC to hear contempt plea on namaz disruptions in Ggm

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed for expedited hearing on a contempt plea filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb, demanding action against Haryana government officials over Friday namaz disruptions by certain rightwing groups in Gurugram.

A bench, led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Indira Jaising who submitted that the state government officials have not been following the 2018 apex court judgment on stopping hate crimes.

“This is not based only on newspaper reports. We have ourselves filed complaints. We are not asking for any enforcement of FIR. This court has laid down preventive measures and they are not being followed at all,” Jaising, appearing for

Adeeb, told the bench, which also included justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli

At this, the CJI replied: “I will look into it and post before the appropriate bench immediately.” Adeeb’s petition claimed that in recent months, there has been a constant rise in incidents around Friday prayers offered by Muslims. These incidents, the plea said, took place at the behest of certain “identifiable hooligans, who portray themselves falsely in the name of religion and seek to create an atmosphere of hatred and prejudice against one community across the city.”

Adeeb’s contempt plea seeks action against Haryana’s chief secretary, IAS officer Sanjeev Kaushal, and the director general of police, IPS officer PK Agrawal for not complying with the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment in which a string of directives was issued to all the state governments to prevent hate crimes through strict measures.

One guideline said states shall designate a senior police officer not below the rank of police superintendent as the nodal officer in each district. These officers will set up a task force to be assisted by one DSP-rank officer for taking measures to prevent mob violence and lynching.

Right-wing groups have been opposing Friday prayers at open spots which had earlier been demarcated by the administration. As the disruptions grew increasingly charged, Haryana chief minister ML Khattar on December 11 suspended Namaz in public places, including six open spaces agreed upon by Hindu and Muslim groups for which the Gurugram administration had previously given its nod.

Khattar said that Namaz should not be allowed in open spaces.

RIGHT-WING GROUPS HAVE BEEN OPPOSING FRIDAY PRAYERS AT OPEN SPOTS WHICH HAD EARLIER BEEN DEMARCATED BY THE ADMIN.