In a decision that could generate much political heat, Law Minister Brajesh Pathak admitted that a process was underway to withdraw ‘political’ cases pertaining to Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013 in which 63 people were killed and over 50,000 rendered homeless.
“The Government is only considering to withdraw political cases related to Muzaffarnagar riots,” Pathak told reporters in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The Minister said that several political leaders were implicated in the riots and hence the Government has started the process to withdraw them. “It is nothing new as in the past too, state governments have done such things,” Pathak added. UP Government’s law department has sought report from Muzaffarnagar and other districts on cases lodged against politicians, particularly of the BJP in connecntion with the 2013 riots.
On Monday, BJP MPs and Legislators along with Jat and Khaap leaders from Muzaffarnagar met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to demand the withdrawal of cases against BJP and other leaders accused in the riots.
Former Union minister and Muzaffarnagar BJP MP, Sanjeev Baliyan along with a 12-member delegation met the CM at his office in Lucknow to apprise him about their demand.
The delegation also included Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait and other Khaap and Jat leaders from western UP. Later, BJP MLA Sangeet Som and others too met the CM over the same issue.
The leaders tried to impress upon the CM to expedite the process to withdraw cases against the BJP and Jat leaders. Later, the delegation confirmed that the CM had assured them on this count.
Last month, the UP government had sought opinion of concerned District Magistrate regarding the status of Muzaffarnagar riot cases and asked them if withdrawing it would be the right step in public interest. The Law department had sought details on 13 points in nine cases registered on August 31, 2013 and thereafter. There was no mention of the leader’s name in letter, except the serial number of the case.
Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Baliyan, Bijnore MP Bhartendra Singh, Budhana MLA Umesh Malik and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi.
One of the cases against them, which also names Sadhvi Prachi, was about making inflammatory speeches at a mahapanchayat on August 31, 2013 which is believed to have triggered the riots.
Other BJP leaders facing riot charges include BJP MLA from Thana Bhawan, Shamli and UP minister Suresh Rana apart from BJP MLA from Sardhana Sangeet Singh Som. Last year, the police filed a closure report in a riot case against Som citing lack of evidence.
Taking a cue from Modi government, the Yogi government is set to repeal over 1,000 existing laws which have become irrelevant in the state soon.
On Wednesday, Law minister Brajesh Pathak said, “There are thousands of old laws which have become irrelevant in the present system and adoption of new laws hav become the need of the hour. These old laws will be repealed in near future so that it do not infringe with the new one,” he said.
“In the last Assembly session, the state government repealed five old laws. In the coming Budget session, more laws could be repealed,” Pathak said.
Addressing media persons to announce about Lok Adalat to be held in the state from tehsil to district level on February 10, the minister made it clear that old laws were being repealed on the recommendation of National Law Commission and with from the Union government.
Pathak said that the Lok Adalat was the best way to sort out legal differences between two parties and it had been successful in the country.
“Though, the verdict of Lok Adalat is final as no one can appeal in the higher courts against its judgement, the final order comes only after a compromise is reached between both parties,” he informed.
Pathak claimed that UP was the only state where there were permanent Lok Adalats in 71 of the 75 districts and in the rest four districts -- Shamli, Hapur, Amethi and Sambhal, it would be set up once the district court started functioning.
While the first Lok Adalat was held in Junagarh in Gujarat in 1982, in UP it was first launched in 1985.
The minister said that Lok Adalats would be organised from Tehsil to district level in the entire country on February 10 and in the state, Additional District Magistrates have been nominated in all districts to coordinate for its smooth conduct.