Brushing aside Uttar Pradesh’s objections, the Supreme Court has directed the State government, in association with the Centre, to immediately take charge of all persons who are stranded without food and water and set up relief camps, providing all assistance to the people affected in the Muzaffarnagar communal violence.
“We can’t dismiss the writ petitions [of residents] in limine. We feel the court has to go into these issues,” a Bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justices Ms. Ranjana Desai and Ranjan Gogoi made it clear to senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the State government, on Thursday.
The Bench, after hearing senior counsel Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Mohd. Haroon and eight other residents, and Supreme Court Bar Association president M.N. Krishnamani, issued notice to the Centre and the State government, returnable on September 16, on the plea for a CBI probe into the violence and seeking various reliefs. The Bench permitted serving of the notice in the office of the Attorney-General.
In its brief order, the Bench said, “On going through the various allegations levelled in the writ petitions, we are inclined to examine the matter. It directed the State and the Centre to take care of the stranded until rehabilitation and restoration took place in their places. Medical treatment should be provided to the wounded and needy persons admitted to hospitals in Meerut or Roorkee, and if required, in Delhi or any other suitable place. Both the State and the Centre should file compliance reports, through their senior officers, at the next hearing.
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