Posters of anti-CAA protesters in Lucknow: UP govt moves SC against Allahabad HC order

The Uttar Pradesh government has approached the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court's order to immediately remove the hoardings of over 50 people accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

A bench of Justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose would take up the petition challenging the validity of the HC's directions today.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the HC had termed the move as "highly unjust". It said the state government's action was an “absolute encroachment on personal liberty of individuals”.

The posters, bearing photographs, names and addresses of those accused of vandalism during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in December, had come up at major road crossings in Lucknow last Thursday.

The HC had found that there was no law in existence in the state allowing it to place the banners with personal data of the accused, who were to pay compensation for damages to the public and properties.

Terming the act as "unwarranted interference into the privacy of people", the HC had directed the district magistrate, Lucknow to immediately remove the roadside hoardings and report compliance by March 16.