SC agrees to hear tomorrow plea on Patiala House Court scuffle

 The Supreme Court today agreed to give an urgent hearing tomorrow to a plea seeking action against those involved in thrashing journalists and JNU students and teachers in the Patiala House court complex where a student union leader was to be produced.

The petition filed by N D Jaiprakash, an alumnus of JNU, who was hurt in the violence yesterday, sought action against the people involved in the violence and over "inaction" on the part of Delhi Police.

The petition, which was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief J T S Thakur by senior advocate Indira Jaising, also demanded that the security measures in the court complex should be such that no person becomes victim of violence.

The petition said the violence witnessed in the court not only endangered the life of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested in a case of sedition, but also prevented journalists from carrying out their work of reporting court proceedings. It said the Kanhaiya will be produced in court again on expiry of his police remand.

The petition also sought a direction to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Delhi Police to take all preventive action so that no such violence takes place either inside the court room or within the court complex as such type of activities in the court complex put the life of the accused in peril.

"Direct the Respondent to safeguard the CCTV footage in and around the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen, which may be used as evidence in any further proceedings in the matter," the petition said.

It also sought direction to the MHA and Delhi Police to ensure that the proceedings against Kanhaiya Kumar at the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen at the Patiala House court complex is carried out in a manner which is not prejudicial to the fundamental rights of the persons attending the proceedings.

It also sought direction to ensure that the court is free of persons causing physical harm, any form of intimidation or any disturbance, adding that the respondents be directed to make sure that proper and appropriate action is taken against any person who is obstructing the proceedings.