New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said high courts should be approached first on pleas alleging police atrocities on Jamia Millia Islamia students 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.
“Having regard to the nature of the matter and dispute, and the vast area over which the matter is spread, we do not think it is feasible to appoint one committee for this. The High Courts can be approached where the incidents have taken place,” the bench said, according to LiveLaw. “High Courts have the liberty to appointed retired judges for the purposes of inquiry after hearing the Union and the State Government.”
The Supreme Court is “not a trial court”, the bench had said at the beginning, expressing its disinclination to hear the petitions.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing the students, said that the students had been violence attacked. She added that the police had gone into the university campus without the requisite permissions.
“What are the officers supposed to do if the students behave like this? Won’t FIRs be filed if students pelt stones?” CJI Bobde said in response.
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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that no students had been arrested. He added that police officers also received injuries.
Soon after the hearing concluded, Jamia Millia Islamia proctor Waseem Khan issued a statement saying that the SG’s remark about the chief proctor admitting the police into campus was false.
JUST IN: Jamia Millia Islamia Proctor Waseem Khan issues statement. pic.twitter.com/04BRmzUz1G
— Ritika Chopra (@KhurafatiChopra) December 17, 2019