Mitali Palnitkar
Published On: January 31, 2022 at 17:24 IST
On January 31, 2022, the Supreme Court agreed to list for urgent Hearing of a Plea seeking Contempt Action against top officials of Haryana Government, who were Alleged of causing disruption in offering Namaz in Gurugram.
The Bench comprises of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli. The Plea was filed by former MP Mohammad Adeeb, who was represented by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising.
The Contempt Plea has been filed against Chief Secretary of Haryana and the Director General of Police for not complying with an earlier Judgment passed on the Plea of Tehseen Poonawala. There had been Alleged incidents of disruptions while offering Namaz in open places in Gurugram.
Advocate Jaising stated that the State Government Officials were not following the directions issued by the Supreme Court to stop Hate Crimes, in a 2018 Judgment. The Court had issued guidelines to the Centre and States to take steps such as Victim Compensation, Fast-Tracking Trials, Deterrent Punishment and Disciplinary Action against lax Law Enforcing Officials.
One of the guidelines directed the States to designate a Senior Police Officer not below the rank of Police Superintendent as a Nodal Officer in each district. These Nodal Officers will have to set up a Task Force which is to be assisted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank Officer for taking measures for the prevention of Mob Lynching and Violence.
The Task Force’s responsibility would be to gather Intelligence Reports on the people who are likely to commit or are involved in spreading Hate Speeches and Fake News. Also, the State Governments shall identify the places where instances of Mob Lynching and Violence had been reported in the recent past.