Delhi High Court rejects a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the 2020 northeast Delhi riots and 2019 violence at Jamia Millia Islamia; detailed judgment awaited
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the 2020 northeast Delhi riots and the violence that broke out at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019 following protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
A bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain pronounced the decision and said that all the petitions had been dismissed for the reasons set out in the judgment. The court divided the matters into two broad categories—those relating to the northeast Delhi riots and those concerning the Jamia Millia violence.
The detailed judgment is yet to be released.
Court Had Reserved Verdict in July
The High Court had reserved its verdict on the batch of petitions on July 24 after hearing arguments in the matters.
The petitions sought various forms of relief, including an independent investigation, constitution of an SIT, a commission of inquiry or a fact-finding committee.
The petitioners had argued that an investigation independent of the existing police machinery was necessary to examine allegations relating to the violence and the conduct of law-enforcement personnel.
With the petitions now dismissed, the detailed reasoning of the court will be important in understanding the basis on which the various requests for an SIT or alternative investigative mechanism were rejected.
Pleas Related to Northeast Delhi Riots
The petitions concerning the northeast Delhi riots sought directions relating to several issues, including registration of FIRs, investigation into alleged lapses by police officers, medical assistance and compensation for affected people.
Some petitions also sought action concerning alleged hate speeches by political leaders and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence.
The riots broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, amid protests and counter-protests linked to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. According to the information presented before the court, at least 53 people were killed and around 700 injured during the violence.
Petitions Concerning Jamia Violence
The second set of petitions related to violence at Jamia Millia Islamia following anti-CAA protests in December 2019.
The petitioners alleged that students were subjected to police brutality and argued that the allegations warranted investigation by a body independent of the Delhi Police and the central government.
The pleas sought an SIT to examine the alleged conduct of police personnel during the incidents.
The High Court's dismissal means that the petitioners' requests for the specific investigative mechanism sought through these proceedings have not been accepted.
Detailed Judgment Expected to Clarify Reasoning
While the court has pronounced its decision, the detailed judgment will provide the substantive reasons behind the dismissal.
The judgment is expected to clarify how the court assessed the petitioners' demands for an SIT, commission of inquiry or fact-finding mechanism and the various allegations raised before it.
It may also provide greater clarity on the court's assessment of the existing investigative and legal processes concerning the two sets of incidents.
Until the detailed order is available, the precise reasoning behind the court's decision cannot be conclusively assessed.
Significance of the Decision
The case has attracted considerable attention because the petitions concerned two major episodes of violence in Delhi that generated extensive legal and political debate.
The 2020 northeast Delhi riots resulted in significant loss of life and property and led to multiple investigations and criminal proceedings. The 2019 Jamia violence likewise became the subject of litigation concerning the conduct of police personnel and the treatment of students.
The petitioners' demand for an independent investigation reflected their contention that the existing mechanisms were insufficient to address the allegations raised by them.
The High Court's decision now places the focus on the detailed judgment and on the legal reasoning supporting the dismissal.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step will be the release and examination of the detailed judgment.
Depending on the findings and reasoning contained in the order, the parties involved may consider their available legal remedies.
The decision also illustrates the distinction between seeking a particular investigative mechanism through judicial proceedings and the underlying criminal or other legal processes concerning the incidents themselves.
The dismissal of these petitions, therefore, should not be interpreted as a determination on every individual allegation connected with the 2019 and 2020 incidents. The precise scope and implications of the ruling will become clearer once the court's detailed judgment is available.