Waqf law row: SC allows party to withdraw plea for probe into West Bengal violence

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday voiced its displeasure over pleadings made over pleas related to the recent violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment Act).

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said that the averments should be decent, respectful, and the plea under Article 32 of the Constitution must raise good questions of law with interesting legal material.

"Yes, justice to the voiceless is good, but do so in a proper manner. Not like this," the bench said.

The court stressed that the counsel should come with a sense of responsibility when they file petitions. The bench said that averments should be decent and respectful.

"Any plea under Article 32 must raise good questions of law with interesting legal material. The rest of the things we forget when we sit here," the bench said.

The pleas were filed by advocates Vishal Tiwari and Shashank Shekhar Jha in connection with violence in West Bengal.

The bench said lawyers should not file petitions "just to come in the news".

The bench said that the Supreme Court is a court of record. "Posterity will see. You have to be careful when filing pleadings, and it respects every member of the Bar," the bench told the counsel.

The bench allowed Tiwari to withdraw his petition and file a fresh one. However, Jha initially insisted that he was not willing to file a fresh petition.

The bench said it did not approve of some expressions used in the petition. It also seems the petitioner was in great hurry, the court said.

The bench asked him how many years of experience he had and how many PILs he had filed.

Jha said he had been practising for seven years and had filed three to four PILs.

"Have you learnt the art of pleadings from a senior," the bench asked him.

Jha said that people who were affected by violence had contacted him, many of whom migrated to other states, and he will include them in the matter.

The bench asked him regarding the source of information in connection with migration.

Jha said it was based on media reports. On the aspect of the allegation regarding the failure of law and order in Bengal, the bench said he must detail what measures can be taken.

The bench said the lawyer has made allegations against individuals who are not before the court. It said if allegations were made against anyone, then that person should be impleaded.

Jha agreed to make amendments to his petition.