HC seeks report on church attacks

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the government on the measures it had taken for the safety of religious institutions in the Capital.

This was in response to a public interest litigation demanding that a special investigation team (SIT) probe the recent church attacks.

The PIL had also requested that the SIT has Christian members or members of the National Minority Commission.

The PIL before a Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw had also sought directions to the Centre, Delhi government, and the police to submit a status report on action taken post the attacks and safety measures to prevent such incidents in future.

The Home Ministry’s lawyers opposed the motion, stating that the PIL was of a communal nature and that an SIT had already been formed to investigate the attacks. It was argued that all places of worship were vulnerable to attacks and that the petition seemed to be concerned only about churches.

The government lawyers said that around 200 temples, 30 gurdwaras and 14 mosques were vandalised along with six churches in the Capital last year.

Preference should not be given to one religion only, said lawyers.

However, the court specifically asked them whether an FIR had been registered before giving four weeks to all these authorities to file their status report.

The next date of hearing has been fixed for July 1.

The Home Ministry’s lawyers opposed the motion, stating that the PIL was of a communal nature