The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday, 10 August, ordered strict action against those taking the law into their hands during the Kanwar Yatra, ANI reported. The SC order comes a day after videos of Kanwarias in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh resorting to violence surfaced.
A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, and Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, citing an earlier verdict, said that videography of every procession should be done.
On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas vandalised a car in Delhi’s Moti Nagar after an altercation with the driver who allegedly brushed past one of the Kanwarias.
A similar incident took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on August 7, wherein Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police SUV on a busy road, and having an altercation with the locals.
The police on Friday, 10 August, arrested six Kanwariyas, including the main accused Pappu, in the Bulandshahr incident.
According to Live Law, the court was hearing a petition by the Kodungallur Film Society seeking framing of laws against hooliganism by fringe groups in the name of protests.
CJI highlighted that Section 153A and 506 IPC used the word “whoever” and hence action had to be taken against “whoever” instigating and committing violence, regardless of their religion, Live Law reported.
“Damage to public properties is a serious issue. This is a grave situation and this must stop. We will take action and won't wait for amendments," the court said, as quoted by NDTV.
(With inputs from ANI, NDTV and Live Law)
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