Perturbed by anarchy and lawlessness during agitation all over the country, the Supreme Court on Monday constituted two high-powered committees to suggest modalities to enforce the law “with punitive actions and exemplary punishments” to protect innocent lives and public property and to rein in “rogue media”, respectively.

While brushing aside the allegation that the media was responsible for escalation of violence recently in four states — Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana — during the Gurjar-Meena quota agitation, a bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P P Naolekar said the states have failed to implement the provisions of the Prevention of Damages to Public Properties Act 1984 .

The bench clarified that its orders should not in any manner be seen as an infringement on the citizens’ right to protest and the functional freedom enjoyed by the media. The panel will have Solicitor-General G Vahanvati; senior advocate K Parasaran, former CBI director R K Raghavan; secretary, Law Ministry and the additional secretary, Home Ministry with senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan as secretary.

The other committee — comprising senior advocate Fali S Nariman (Chairman); Solicitor General G Vahanvati; the editors of Times of India, Indian Express, NDTV and Dainik Jagaran; the Secretary, I&B: secretary, Law and Justice and additional secretary, Home Ministry with senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan as secretary — will look into the role of media during such public agitations.

NOTICES ON ROAD MISHAPS

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order after the arguments on a petition seeking direction to the Union government and all states to provide information on accidents involving motor vehicles within 30 days to enable the courts to dispose of 1.5 million claim cases at the earliest. The bench said it would pass a detailed order later.

Plea against Symbiosis quota spiked

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would not entertain the petition regarding the decision of the Pune-based Symbiosis International University (SIU) to set aside 27 per cent seats for students from Other Backward Communities (OBC) as the matter has been referred to a constitutional bench.