Bombay-HC disapproves practice of people writing directly to PM, President
What's the story
The Bombay High Court deprecated today the practice of people writing directly to the Prime Minister, the President, or the Chief Minister making wide allegations against certain persons instead of following due process of law. A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and Mridula Bhatkar said this tendency of writing directly to top constitutional functionaries seems to be aimed at seeking publicity. Here's more.
Details
Bench made observation hearing petitions regarding Bhima-Koregaon violence
The bench made the observation while hearing petitions pertaining to the January 2018 violence at Koregaon-Bhima village in Pune district. While one petition filed by Pune resident Satish Gaikwad, who claims to be a victim of the violence, sought an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the case, another plea by social activist Abdul Malik Chaudhary demanded a state CID probe.
Process
Very unfortunate that people don't follow due process: Shinde
Referring to Chaudhary's plea, the bench noted earlier the petitioner had written a letter to the PM, the President of India, and Maharashtra CM. "In the letter, the petitioner made wide allegations against several persons and had even involved a neighboring country. This is very unfortunate that people write letters to PM and President instead of following due process of law," Justice Shinde said.
Quote
Court says such people only want publicity and popularity
The law permits a person to approach the police or a magistrate to lodge a complaint and get their grievances addressed, the court noted. "It seems like these persons only want publicity and popularity," Justice Shinde said.
Petitions
Bench adjourned hearing on petitions till September 17
The bench adjourned hearing on the petitions till Sept 17 post observing that a similar plea pertaining to the June arrest of five activists for their alleged links with Maoists would be heard on Sept 12. The Police had arrested activists Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, and Mahesh Raut in June with the 'Elgar Parishad' conclave held in Pune last year.
Bhima-Koregaon case
Brief history of Bhima-Koregaon violence
Inflammatory speeches delivered at the 'Elgar Parishad' had led to the violence at Koregaon-Bhima the next day. On August 28, Maharashtra Police arrested five more Left-wing activists- Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, and Gautam Navalakha, in multi-city raids for their alleged Maoist links. The five activists are under house arrest till September 12 according to an order of the Supreme Court.