[Karauli Priest Burnt Alive] Rajasthan HC Issues Notice On Letter Petition Seeking Judicial Probe [Read Order]

A Division Bench comprising of Justices Sabina and Chandra Kumar Songara has issued notice to Advocate General, Rajasthan for Friday, October 23, 2020.

The letter petition was filed by Advocate Pawan Prakash Pathak, pained by the rise in such barbaric crimes that have a direct impact on the citizens' right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

He has urged the Court to direct a free, fair & transparent investigation into the entire incident by appointing Central Investigation Agency and further provide protection to the priest's family.

"Right to life is inalienable basic right of man. It is most important, human, fundamental, inalienable, transcendental rights. Naturally and logically this right requires the highest protection," Pathak wrote.

He added,

"The recent incident of Burning alive a priest in Karauli, Rajasthan is one such matter within the jurisdiction of this Hon'ble Court where all the Constitutional safeguards were gone for a toss and such series of heinous crime disrupt the basic foundation of our Constitution & also people lose their faith in constitutional machineries."

On October 7, 2020, a 50-yers old temple priest from Bukna village in Rajasthan was set on fire, allegedly by five people who wanted to encroach on temple land.

The priest was admitted at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur in a critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries on the next day. Reportedly, the priest's family has refused to perform his last rites until justice is done to them.

They have demanded that the accused's entire family, allegedly involved in the case, should be arrested and police officials should be suspended for inaction.

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