The PIL, filed by advocate Gaurav Yadava, has asked the apex court to urgently consider directing a probe under the supervision of a high court judge on the violence in the western UP district. DH file photo
Refusing to hear a PIL on the Saharanpur violence on an urgent basis, the Supreme Court on Friday said the petition would be heard after the summer vacation.
The PIL, filed by advocate Gaurav Yadava, has asked the apex court to urgently consider directing a probe under the supervision of a high court judge on the violence in the western UP district.
Yadava brought up the matter before the vacation bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha, contending that there was complete failure of law and order and inability of the local administration to contain violent clashes between the upper caste Thakurs and Dalits in the district, 200 km from Delhi.
He asked the court’s direction to set up a Special Investigation Team headed by a high court judge to “conduct a fair, impartial and independent investigation to unearth the truth, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book”.
The advocate has also asked for compensation to those who had lost their lives and properties in the violence. “People from the Dalit community are compelled to leave their houses and are shifted to safer places, which is a gross violation of the fundamental rights of innocent people,” Yadava contended.
He said riots broke out on May 5 in Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur, when people from the upper caste torched homes of the Dalits. As many as 20 vehicles were burnt and valuables from the houses were stolen.
The petition also said about 30 people are still missing and 150 others have left for safer locations due to lack of security to their lives and property owing to the violence that continues to flare up.