Concerned about law and order after court scuffle: SC on JNU row
The Supreme Court also asked lawyers not to give undue statements to inflate the issue.
New Delhi: A day after JNU students’ union chief Kanhaiya Kumar’s arrest and scuffle at the Patiala House court, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the state of affairs in the national capital.
A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar also said that it was keeping an eye on the law and order situation prevailing in the Patiala House court complex. "We are keeping an eye on the law and order situation at Patiala House court," the Supreme Court said.
The bench, which is to hear the plea in the matter at 2 pm, said, "Everyone should be careful while giving statements."
Later today, the top court will take a decision on unruly lawyers who shouted slogans and attacked people at the court.
Read: Supreme Court orders security for Kanhaiya Kumar
The Supreme Court will also take note of the report of five senior lawyers it had sent to assess the situation at the court.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave and others informed the bench that a group of men in lawyers’ robes, in open defiance of the Supreme Court order, barged into the Patiala House courts complex and assaulted a journalist and Kanhaiya Kumar. They said the group, which was seen raising the slogan “Vande Mataram” and waving the Indian flag on the court premises, was led by lawyer Vikram Chauhan.
Read: JNU row: There should be no 'Taliban culture' in India, says resigned ABVP members
The bench, while expressing serious concern over the developments, asked the members of the committee to give a report on Wednesday’s developments by 2 pm on Thursday. The Delhi high court registrar-general was also asked to give a report by Thursday afternoon. On the plea that the trial venue be shifted outside Patiala House, the bench said, “We don’t want to send a wrong signal.”
Read: 'Lawlessness' continues in Delhi courts, journalist beaten up again
Kumar, who has been booked under sedition charge in connection with an event in JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week, has been arrested by Delhi Police. He has been remanded to judicial custody till March 2.
Read: JNU VC appeals to students to reconsider protest march to Jantar Mantar
The Supreme Court on Wednesday had restricted the number of people entering the court room and had asked for full security for Kumar.
Read: Kanhaiya Kumar beaten by lawyers in court, to be in jail custody till March 2
However, defying the top courts’ orders, a large group of men dressed in lawyers' robes barged into the Patiala House court complex and allegedly beat up a journalist and a student before the court was to hear the sedition case of JNU students' union chief Kanhaiya Kumar.
The group shouted ‘Vande Mataram’ and waved the Indian flag. It was led by Vikram Chauhan, one of the lawyers who had attacked JNU students, faculty and several journalists on February 15 at the Patiala court where they had gathered to hear Kanhaiya's appeal.
Read: JNU row: Delhi Police conducts inter-state raids
Journalist Anwar, who was beaten up, said clashes erupted in the court complex and the cops present did not deter lawyers from shouting slogans and fighting with journalists and students.