Anti-conversion: SC no to cases' transfer

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by the UP government to transfer all petitions against the anti-conversion ordinance pending in the Allahabad HC to itself. A bench headed by CJI SA Bobde said it would like to take advantage of a decision by the HC, where the matter is slated for hearing in Februar y. Senior Advocate PS Narasimha, representing the UP govt, said identical petitions challenging the ordinance were pending in the HC. The apex court said it was aware of the HC cases when it issued notice in the matter earlier. "If the High Court is going to decide the cases, why should we inter fere?" the bench remarked. The counsel for the respondents submitted that the High Court had listed the matter for hearing on Februar y 2.