The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation demanding an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency into the youth protests in the national capital and the march to Parliament held on July 20, Bar and Bench reported.
The petition, filed by a former office bearer of the Hindutva organisation Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, has alleged that the demonstration was not a genuine student movement, but was part of a “larger conspiracy” involving “external funding”.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia has agreed to hear the matter on Friday, the legal news outlet reported.
The protests began on June 6, when the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign began to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the alleged mismanagement of national competitive exams.
On Sunday, thousands joined the protest in Delhi after the police forced activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike, into hospital. The protests soon spread to other cities.
A march to Parliament on Monday was met with a brutal crackdown by the police. Dozens were injured by police lathis and had to brave tear gas.
“This pertains to the so-called student agitation”, Bar and Bench quoted the petitioner’s counsel as telling the court. He claimed that the protest had made Delhi “hostage”.
“The roads have been blocked and citizens of Delhi are suffering”, the counsel submitted.
The petition also alleges that the agitation was orchestrated by “anti-national and foreign elements” with the intention of “destabilising the country”, Bar and Bench reported.
The plea has sought directions from the court for the NIA or another specialised agency to investigate the protest and take over all first information reports registered by the Delhi Police in connection with the demonstration. It has also sought the identification and prosecution of those allegedly responsible for violence, vandalism and obstructing emergency services.
The petition also referred to media reports about Wangchuk’s alleged links to foreign organisations and argued that these claims should be investigated by the competent authorities.
The same bench is hearing a batch of public interest litigations alleging that the Delhi Police used excessive force against students during the march to Parliament.
On Wednesday, the court directed the Delhi Police and the Union government to file their responses in the matter within four weeks.
Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
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