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Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008
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Supreme Court notice to Maharashtra

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Maharashtra government on a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to it to protect the life and property of all citizens including north Indians.

Last week Justice B.N. Agrawal, heading a two-judge Bench, observed during ‘mention’ time that the agitation spearheaded by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray could be controlled “if there is a political will.” The court directed counsel Sugreev Dubey to suitably amend the petition filed by businessman Salek Chand Jain.

On Monday, the petition was listed before a Bench consisting of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices P. Sathasivam and J.M. Panchal.

Counsel Dubey said both the Centre and the State government failed to take steps for the safety of north Indians. The police remained a mute spectator when two north Indian doctor brothers were recently killed by supporters of Mr. Raj Thackeray. Such attacks on north Indians by the MNS supporters had their effect in other parts of the country as well.

When the CJI asked “on what basis you say the Centre is not taking steps,” counsel said the internal disturbance had spread but the Centre was keeping silent, and wanted the court to issue notice to the Centre and Maharashtra.

The Bench, however, confined the notice to the State government seeking its response.

It dismissed another PIL petition filed by advocate Sanjiv Kumar Singh for a direction to detain Mr. Raj Thackeray under the National Security Act.

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