Anti-CAA stir: Allahabad HC Reserves Order On Plea Against Police Action At AMU

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday reserved order on a PIL against police action during an anti-CAA protest at Aligarh Muslim University on December 15.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Vivek Varma reserved judgment will pronounce its judgment on January 7.

In the petition filed by Mohd Aman Khan of Allahabad, it was stated that students were protesting peacefully against the legislation since December 13.

On December 15, students gathered at Maulana Azad Library and marched up to the university gate, where police tried to provoke them, the petitioner said.

"After some time, police started firing tear gas shells at students and they were cane-charged," the petitioner alleged, adding that around 100 students were injured due to it.

The petitioner sought the formation of a panel by the court to enquire into the police action.

He also sought the release of the students detained by police and compensation for those injured in the violence.

Appearing for the state government, Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal argued that the university gate was damaged by the students and police entered the campus on the request of the AMU administration to control the students who indulged in violence.

He said no excessive force was used by police. 

On December 17, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain pleas seeking enquiry into police atrocities against University students. A bench headed by CJI SA Bobde asked the petitioners to approach the concerned High Courts. The SC said that High Courts will be at liberty to consider all issues raised by the petitioners such as the entry of police into campuses without permissions from the authorities, detention of students and denial of medical help to injured students etc. 

(With PTI inputs)