Delhi Riots: Delhi HC Adjourns All Petitions Till March 12, Directs Centre To File Reply

The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned all the matters pertaining to the Delhi Riots till March 12.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Hari Shankar will now take up all the petitions and impleadment applications pertaining to Delhi Riots on March 12.

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.

The Supreme Court in its order passed on March 4 had held that the previous long adjournment given by the Delhi High Court till April 13 in the case 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.

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

The Petitioners in the aforesaid petition has submitted 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 Union of India to file replies to all the petitions and impleadment applications before the next date of hearing.