Incidents of vandalism of public and private properties by protest groups across the country are grave and must stop, the Supreme Court said on Friday, warning that it would take action and not wait for the Central government to amend law.
The court asked the police to take strict action against those responsible for violence. "You may burn your house and be a hero but you cannot damage third party property," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said.
This was after Attorney General (A-G) KK Venugopal told a bench — also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud — that violent protests and rioting happen almost every week in the country.
The Central government's top law officer referred to pro-quota protests by Maratha groups in Maharashtra, nationwide violence following the apex court's verdict in the SC/ST Act case and recent incidents of vandalism by Kanwarias.
When the film Padmaavat was to be released, one group openly threatened to cut the lead actor's nose but no FIR was lodged, he said.
When the bench asked for suggestions, Venugopal said, "Superintendents of police must be made accountable. The government has been contemplating an amendment to the law to deal with such protests. The courts should allow it to change the law suitably."
"Judges might have seen media reports how Kanwariyas damaged cars," he added.
"We will not wait for the amendment. This is a grave situation. This must stop," the bench said. Justice Chandrachud also referred to a recent incident in Allahabad where half a highway was blocked.
The court reserved its order on a petition filed by the Kodungallur Film Society that has sought enforcement of the apex court's 2009 directions.
Then, the court had said that organisers of any protest would be held accountable for the loss of private and public properties. It had also ordered the police to videograph protests so accountability could be fixed.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said that authorities will take necessary action against those found guilty.
On Tuesday, Kanwarias attacked a police vehicle in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district. The UP police is already under attack after a video showed senior officials showering rose petals from a helicopter on pilgrims in Meerut and Saharanpur divisions.
Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage by Shiva devotees who walk from their homes to Haridwar to fetch Ganga water during Shravan. Various camps and rest stops are set up for devotees on roadsides that disrupt traffic.
According to reports, about 10 pilgrims died in accidents, clashes and heart attack during the month-long Yatra, first phase of which concluded on Thursday.
Around a dozen Kanwar pilgrims wrecked a car — driven by a CISF Inspector's daughter — with rods and sticks and toppled it on a busy street in West Delhi's Moti Nagar area on Tuesday, as policemen and passers-by looked on.
(With agency inputs)
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