SC asks Delhi police to justify Ram Lila Maidan crackdown

Ramdev camp argues decision was "political" and taken much before June 4

deevakar

Deevakar Anand | July 11, 2011



The supreme court on Monday pulled up Delhi police for its midnight swoop on anti-corruption protestors at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on June 5.

A division bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar asked Delhi police to justify its act of using teargas and resorting to lathi charge on sleeping men, women and children - gathered to support Ramdev in his protest against corruption - in the closed pandal.

Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is arguing for Ramdev, cited a press release by the home ministry as well an interview of the home minister P Chidambaram to point to the fact that the decision to use force on protestors was a “political decision” taken much earlier than on June 4. The court said it would consider issuing notices to union home ministry on this charge by Ramdev.

The bench said there were documents and DVDs to show yoga was indeed undertaken at the Ramlila ground. “If that was so, what was the justification for the police to resort to baton- charge,” it asked. Delhi police commissioner B K Gupta , in an affidavit has submitted in the court that the permission to use the Ramlila Ground was given for a yoga camp, and not for any other purpose.

The matter will be taken up for next hearing on July 25.
 

Comments

 

Other News

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran  Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799  

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495  

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter