New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said high courts should be approached first on pleas alleging police atrocities on persons protesting against the amended Citizenship Act. The court also asked as to how buses were burnt during the protests. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde commenced hearing on pleas including that of Alumni Association Jamia Millia Islamia University. “We don’t want to spend time knowing facts, you should go to courts below first,” said the bench.
Earlier, in a sharp observation on the Jamia crackdown in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday said, “we are not against peaceful demonstrations, but we can't allow people to go on streets, indulge in rioting.” Taking note of the violence, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that, “we are not to be bullied like this.” The observations came when a group of lawyers were asking the top court to take cognisance of violence on the Citizenship Act in Delhi.
CJI Bobde further said that, “Just because they happen to be students, it doesn't mean they can take law and order in their hands, this has to be decided when things cool down. This is not the frame of mind when we can decide anything. Let the rioting stop.”
