New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned hearing till July 6 a batch of petitions in connection with the violence that erupted in and around Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year.
A bench presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan, which was hearing the pleas through video conferencing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, listed the matter for hearing on July 6 after noting that some of the parties have not received the replies filed in this matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi Police, contended that "irresponsible" pleadings are filed in the rejoinder of one of the petitioners Nabila Hasan who has sought action against the police for allegedly brutally attacking the petitioners, students and residents of JMI.
Hasan's plea has also sought action against the alleged ruthless, and excessive use of force and aggression unleashed by the police and paramilitary forces on students within the university.
As her rejoinder to Delhi Police’s reply, filed in the petition, was not on court’s record, Mehta said he will address the bench on this issue on the next date of hearing.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Hasan, said he has filed an application seeking an addition to the prayer made in the petition.
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The court said it will hear it along with other pleas on July 6.
Delhi Police, in its affidavit filed through advocates Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair in response to the petitions, has sought dismissal of pleas seeking quashing of FIRs and directions against alleged police brutality in the university during the anti-CAA protests.
It said the petitions were an utter abuse of PIL jurisdiction as the incidents of violence in and around the campus were well-planned and orchestrated attempts by some persons with local support.
Opposing a batch of six PILs seeking setting up of a judicial commission to look into the violence, the police has said the claim of police brutality is utter falsehood.
"It appears from the averments made in the respective writ petitions that a concerted and well-orchestrated effort has been made by the petitioners to mislead the court," it said.
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"It was only due to unavoidable circumstances, as contemporaneously captured in electronic evidence gathered by the respondent, that it became imperative for it to enter the university, which was being used as a shield by the rioters to pelt stones and other lethal objects on the police force," the police said in response to the allegations of the petitioners that the police had entered the campus without permission.
In a violent confrontation between the police and anti-CAA protesters on December 15 last year, petrol bombs were targeted at police personnel, ordinary citizens and the media as a raging mob seized parts of south Delhi refused to let go.
(With inputs from agencies)
