Ex-judges write to CJI on UP’s bulldozer drive

NEW DELHI: The unsigned letter, containing the names of former apex court judges Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, Justice V Gopala Gowda, Justice A K Ganguly along with former Delhi HC Chief Justice A P Shah, retired Madras HC judge Justice K Chandru and former judge of Karnataka HC Justice Mohammed Anwar, was delivered by advocate Prasant Bhushan whose name is also in the list of signatories along with five senior advocates.
The letter appeals the apex court to take suo motu cognisance of the recent incidents of “repression” by the state authorities against protestors who were agitating against certain “objectionable” remarks against the Prophet made by some BJP leaders who have since been suspended.
The letter alleged that more than 300 people have so far have been arrested and are being beaten in police custody while their houses are being demolished without notice. “Such a brutal clampdown is an unacceptable subversion of the rule of law and a violation of the rights of citizens,” it said.