2019 Jamia Violence: After SC Order, Delhi High Court Requests Division Bench To Decide Petitions Against Police Atrocities At Early Date

The Delhi High Court on Friday requested a division bench to decide at an early date a batch of pleas concerning allegations of police atrocities in Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019 during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), after it was recently requested by Supreme Court to dispose of the matter as expeditiously as possible.

The pleas will now be heard by a division bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul on November 29, along with a batch of petitions seeking registration of FIRs against politicians for alleged hate speeches during 2020 Delhi riots.

"This court has carefully gone through the order of the Supreme Court, the division bench is requested to decide the matter at an early date as directed by the Supreme Court," a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma ordered.

Advocate Rajat Nair, the counsel representing union government, earlier sought a short adjournment due to non availability of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju. The court allowed the request and listed the matter for hearing on November 29. However, Nair also informed the court that the bench headed by Justice Mridul is hearing a similar matter. Accordingly, the court listed the case related to Jamia violence with the same batch of petitions.

On the night of December 15, 2019, the Delhi Police had allegedly entered Jamia Millia Islamia and assaulted students, following clashes with student activists who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act outside the campus. They reportedly also used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters.

A batch of petitions was filed, inter alia, seeking the setting up of a judicial commission to look into the Jamia violence and registration of first information reports against the erring police officers. The matter is still pending before the Delhi High Court, almost three years later.