Apex court to limit hearing to Patiala court violence

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to limit its scope of adjudication in the case relating to arrest of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar to the violence witnessed in the Patiala House courts on February 15 and 17.

After going through different reports submitted on the incident, a bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre said: “There are allegations and counter-allegations. We will examine the issue.” Noting that there is no “pressing urgency” to hear the petition filed by JNU alumnus A N Jayaprakash, seeking free and fair access to justice, the court fixed the matter for consideration on March 10.

The court also refused to consider a plea by an advocate from Shahdara Bar Association here, seeking action against JNU students for raising slogans and terming execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as judicial killing.

During the hearing, the bench perused reports filed by Delhi Police, Bar Council of India, Delhi High Court Registry, lawyers of the accused and the six-member lawyers’ panel formed by the apex court.
  
Bar Council of India chairman Manan K Mishra submitted that a three member panel comprising L Narsimha Reddy, former HC chief justice, M N Krishnamani, senior advocate and S Prabhakaran, a member of the statutory body, has been set up to probe the incidents, reported on February 15 and 17 at Patiala House Courts. However, inquiry would proceed subject to the order of the court, he submitted.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Delhi HC registrar general, submitted that a committee has been set up to take administrative action in the matter.