Police thrashing: SC issues notice to Punjab, Bihar

Taking note of media reports of the thrashing by police of a Dalit woman and her father in Punjab and a group of teachers in the Bihar capital Patna, the Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the chief secretaries of both the states.

An apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai while issuing the notice said: "We are taking suo motu congnisance...after seeing the disturbing visuals on television." 

Some Punjab Police personnel were caught on camera brutally thrashing a young Dalit woman and her ex-serviceman father in public after she approached them to file a sexual harassment case in Punjab's Taran Taran district Monday.

In another case, nearly 50 fixed-pay teachers on contract, including women, were injured in police lathicharge during a protest in Patna Tuesday. The teachers were demanding permanent jobs and equal pay for equal work.

The court has directed Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati, Additional Solicitor General Haren Rawal, senior counsel Harish Salve and U.U. Lalit to assist the court in the matter.
The court has listed the matter for March 11.