SC agrees to hear Jamia violence case, demands riots stop immediately

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear pleas on police atrocities against students protesting against the amended Citizenship Act at the Aligarh Muslim University and the Jamia Millia Islamia University, Tuesday (December 17).

The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, on Monday, also took serious note of the rioting and destruction of public property during protests against the Act and said that it must stop immediately.

“Just because they happen to be students, it doesn’t mean they can take law and order in their hands, this has to be decided when things cool down. This is not the frame of mind when we can decide anything. Let the rioting stop,” said the Chief Justice.

Adding that there will be a probe to hold people accountable he added, “We need a probe to fix accountability, we don’t want to be held at ransom. We are not to be bullied like this. We will hear and see what to do. It is a law and order problem and for the police to handle. If someone wants to take to [the] streets, don’t come to [the] court. We are not against peaceful demonstrations.”

A group of lawyers led by senior advocates Indira Jaising and Collin Gonsalves mentioned the matter before the court urging it to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged violence unleashed against students.

Supreme Court Lawyers will gather outside Court No 1 todsy at 945 am to decide next legal course of action in defence of students whose life and liberty has been put in danger by the police

— Indira Jaising (@IJaising) December 16, 2019

“The only thing we want is that the violence must stop,” the bench said, adding, “if protests and violence and damage of public property will be there, we will not hear the matter”.

The bench, also comprising justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant, asked the lawyers to file their petitions and said it would hear them tomorrow.

The situation remained tense on Monday after the university turned into a battlefield on Sunday after the police entered the campus and used ‘excessive’ force on students.

Also Read: Situation tense in Jamia over anti-CAA protests, students leave

Soon after the violence, Jamia Millia Islamia Chief Proctor Waseem Ahmed Khan claimed that the Delhi Police entered the campus without any permission and beat up staff members and students who were forced to evacaute.

Condemning the police action, university Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar said students who were inside the library, where the police allegedly entered, had been taken out and were safe.

Protests have been reported from all over the country in solidarity after the Jamia violence.

(With input from agencies)