Breaking: Allahabad HC To Deliver Verdict Tomorrow In Suo Moto PIL Against Putting Up Of Banners With Photos Of Persons Accused Of Violence In CAA Protests

The Allahabad High Court has reserved its order in suo moto proceedings against putting up of banners containing photographs and details of persons accused of violence during anti-CAA protests at Lucknow.

The verdict is scheduled to come out at 2pm tomorrow, i.e. Monday.

The HC had registered suo moto PIL against raising of banners in Lucknow containing details of individuals and it held a a special sitting today.

The matter was first taken up at 10 am when the bench comprised by Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha pulled up state authorities stating that the impugned state action was "highly unjust" and that it was an absolute "encroachment" on personal liberty of the persons concerned.

The matter was the adjourned till 3pm to enable appearance of Advocate General.

At 3 pm, the AG disputed the jurisdiction of the HC stating that the hoardings were put up in Lucknow and therefore the principal seat of the HC did not have any jurisdiction in the matter. He had also submitted that PILs should not be registered to protect those who break the law.

The Lucknow administration had put up hoardings at major cross-sections in the city, with details of about 60 people who have been issued recovery notices for their alleged involvement in violence during CAA protests on December 19, 2019.

A government spokesman said the posters have been up on the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive at important intersections, including the main crossing in the busy Hazratganj area and in front of the Assembly building.

Noted activist Sadaf Jafar, human rights lawyer Mohammad Shoaib, activist and former IPS officer S R Darapuri etc., also figure in one of the banners.

Taking suo moto cognizance of the matter, the division bench decided to hold a special sitting today (Sunday) at 10 AM.

The court had observed that "good sense should prevail on the State and it should remove the hoardings and apprise the court about this at 3".

Picture Courtesy: News Nation