Supreme Court to hear all Muzaffarnagar riot cases

All cases pertaining to Muzaffarnagar riots were transferred to SC from the Allahabad High Court on Thursday.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: All cases pertaining to Muzaffarnagar riots were transferred to SC from the Allahabad High Court on Thursday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said it is aware about the prevailing situation and will pass direction if required. It also directed that a PIL pending in the Allahabad High Court be transferred to the apex court.
"We are not closing the writ petition. Till the end we will monitor the development. We are not passing the final order," the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, said.
Meanwhile, the Centre and the state government were seen supporting each other during the hearing of the case. The Centre assured the bench that it is committed to provide all assistance to the state government.
"I am making an unconditional statement that whatsoever is needed by the state government, whether it is a financial assistance or security personnel, will be provided by the Centre," Attorney General G E Vahanvati said.
"No blame game on this. It is a human tragedy and we have to move forward," he submitted.
The court after hearing the arguments of the Centre, state government and the petitioners listed the case for hearing on September 26.
The bench, which gave patient hearing to advocates, however, warned them that they should not file petitions and applications just for the sake of filing.

It said if they are really interested in restoring communal harmony, they should try to help the victims and not indulge in publicity.

"Are you here really for helping the affected families or merely for publicity? How many writ petitions and applications we will go into," the bench asked when one or the other lawyers were making submission.

Meanwhile, the Centre had told the apex court that it will not trample upon UP government`s powers to tackle law and order in the state.

More than 45 people have been killed in the violence that ensued in Western UP. Communal clashes erupted in Muzaffarnagar on September 07 after simmering discontent over a molestation case of August 27 which subsequently led to three people being killed in a clash. Kawaal village is where an alleged incident of sexual harassment took place.

A `mahapanchayat` or gathering of village councils was held a few days later, which led to communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas, forcing the government to call in the Army to control the situation.

The Vishnu Sahay judicial panel is probing the communal violence.

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.