Attacks On Kashmiris: SC Says No Further Directions Necessary, Asks Centre And States To File Responses In 7 Days

Attorney General K. K. Venugopal submitted before the Supreme Court on Wednesday that since the court took it upon itself to ensure the security of Kashmiri students across the country, in the wake of the Pulwama attack, there have been no instances of violence or threat against them.

Recorded this averment of the Centre, the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi noted that no further orders were required in this behalf at this stage, even as Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves suggested having a dedicated helpline and e-filing of FIRs.

The bench directed the Centre as well as the 11 respondent-states to file their responses within 7 days.

The apex court had on Friday directed that The nodal officers in the different states and UTs (as per the list furnished by the Attorney General) take necessary steps to prevent acts of violence, discrimination and other coercive acts against Kashmiris and other minorities.

Further, the appointment of these officers will be given wide publicity by the Ministry of Home Affairs in all states so that all acts of assault, intimidation, social boycott and threat can be brought to the attention of nodal officer.

"We have also gone through the advisories issued by the Home Ministry to the Chief Secretaries and the DGPs of all states. These advisories already issue shall be reiterated from Time to time. The Chief Secretaries, the DGPs and the Police Commissioner of Delhi are directed to take prompt and necessary action to prevent all incidents of threat, assault, social boycott and other coercive acts in the aftermath of the terrorist attack of February 14", ordered the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Allowing the states of Punjab and Maharashtra to be impleaded as respondents, the court issued notice to the Centre and 9 other states on the petition that was taken up urgently by the bench on Friday after being mentioned by Mr. Gonsalves a day before. 

Picture from here