Supreme Court Pulls up Delhi Police, Slams ‘Inability’ to Work Independently

NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing on a plea against the Shaheen Bagh protesters till March 23, saying that the environment in Delhi was not conducive for it as 20 died in the recent violence till Wednesday. The hearing was fixed to conclude further on the report in a sealed envelope filed by the SC-appointed interlocutors.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph observed that the Delhi Police were unable to tackle the situation in Delhi without taking anyone’s instruction which led to the violence to erupt on February 23.

The court declined to clean the road blockade at Shaheen Bagh and took notice of the violence spread in the capital. Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said during the hearing, that “Environment isn’t very conducive to hear Shaheen Bagh protests case. Sanity has to be maintained by everyone when a matter is to be heard.”
While Justice Joseph expressed distress over the loss of life in the violence, the bench also questioned the inability of the Centre to take action on the Delhi Police incapability and look on the work efficiency of the Delhi Police to instil faith in the rule of law.

When Justice Joseph gave an example of US and UK police force work professionalism for tackling this kind of situation, but was countered by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who stated that “If Delhi Police were to act in accordance with its western counterparts, then “courts will be the first to intervene”.”