Delhi HC Adjourns Riots Cases Till March 20, Directs Centre To File Reply By Monday

The Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of all the matters pertaining to the Delhi Riots till March 20.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Hari Shankar will now take up all the petitions and impleadment applications pertaining to Delhi Riots on March 20.

In today's hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that while the Centre is ready with its reply, it seeks few more days to modify the same with the developments that took place yesterday.

Therefore, he sought 2-3 days' time from the court to file a detailed reply on behalf of the Union of India.

As per the Supreme Court's direction, all the matters pertaining to the Delhi Riots were listed before the Chief Justice's Bench in the Delhi High Court on March 6, and was adjourned to today.

The Supreme Court in its order had held that the long date given by the Delhi High Court - which had listed the cases on April 13 - in these petitions was unjustified.

These petitions, among other things, seek registration of FIRs against political leaders for allegedly making hate speeches which had an effect of instigating the violence.

One of these petitions, which was moved by Harsh Mander, also seeks an independent judicial enquiry into the alleged acts of violence committed by the Delhi Police during the riots.

Another petition, moved by Rahul Roy, seeks medical and humanitarian intervention for the victims and those who are displaced due to the riots in the northeast districts of Delhi.

The court had also issued notice in a fresh petition moved by CPM leader Brinda Karat seeking compliance with section 41(c) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which mandates police to display the names of the arrested persons on the notice board outside the control rooms.

Karat submitted in the petition that the police have not provided any clarity about the arrested persons or the FIRs that have been registered in the present matter.

As per the Petitioner, this lack of transparency is causing distress to the persons who are still looking for their displaced family members. They've no clarity as to whether their loved ones are dead, still alive, or under police detention.

While adjourning the petitions, the court has also directed the Union of India to file replies to all the petitions and impleadment applications before the next date of hearing.