Batla House encounter: SC dismisses plea for judicial inquiry

File picture of students of Jamia Millia University staging a protest at Jantar Mantar to demand a judicial enquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the 'Batla House encounter' and also hand over investigation to the CBI in New Delhi, on October 24, 2008. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea for judicial inquiry into the Batla House encounter in which two suspected terrorists and a police officer were killed, saying any further inquiry would affect the morale of the police.

“There are thousands of police officials who are being killed. It will adversely affect the morale of the police,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan said, while declining the appeal against the Delhi High Court decision.

Further, the Bench said it will only cause harassment.

When advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an NGO ’Act Now For Harmony and Democracy’, submitted that the Batla house encounter has shaken the faith and confidence of the large section of a community, the Bench expressed its displeasure over raising the issue of a particular community.

“You need not identify any sections of society.

Criminals are criminals why do you identify a community,” the Bench also comprising Justices P. Sathasivam and B. S. Chauhan said.