The Supreme Court today made it clear that it would confine itself to the violence in Patiala House court complex on February 15 and 17 in which JNU students, teachers and journalists were attacked during the hearing of sedition case against JNUSU head Kanhaiya Kumar.
“We are not concerned with other incidents. We are only concerned with the episode that had happened on February 15 and 17,” a bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre said when a Karkardooma District bar body sought itself to be impleaded as a party.
The terse response of the court came when the counsel for the district bar body referred to the cultural programme at JNU campus alleging that anti-national slogans were raised there and the execution of Parliament Attack case convict Afzal Guru was termed as “judicial killing”.
“It is not the subject matter of the case here. We are sorry,” the bench said, adding, “You (Karkardooma bar lawyer) come from different bar and you are not an interested party.”
The bench also said it was not concerned with subsequent events and will not broaden the scope of hearing.
R P Luthra, a lawyer who had sought intervention in the case, said the same Patiala House Court has heard and decided the bail plea of former Delhi University lecturer SAR Gilani and that an atmosphere has been “created”.
“Do not settle personal score,” the bench asked Luthra.
During the hearing, the bench perused reports filed by Delhi Police, Bar Council of India, Delhi High Court Registry and the six-member lawyers panel formed by the apex court.
“There are allegations and counter-allegations” and the reports be exchanged and the objections be filed, before the matter is heard on March 10, the bench said.
Apex bar body Bar Council of India (BCI) sought the courts response as to whether it should proceed with the proposed inquiry against lawyers who had allegedly participated in the violent incidents in Patiala House on February 15 and 17 when jailed Kanhaiya Kumar was being produced in connection with the sedition case.
“Let all the concerned receive reports. Today we are not saying anything on it,” the bench said.
The BCI said it has decided to set up a three-member panel which would also have a former Judge of the High Court and senior advocate M N Krishnamani.
( Source – PTI )
