SC seeks views of Centre, states on violence

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Union Government and all the states seeking their views on imposing strong punitive measures on those indulging in destruction of public properties.

A Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P P Naolekar also set up two high-powered committees to examine the impact of the existing statutory provisions on such offenders and the alleged role of the media in escalating such incidents.

The Bench, however, repeatedly clarified that its orders should not in any manner be seen as an infringement on the citizens' right to protest and the functional freedom enjoyed by the media.

The Bench passed the directions after perusing the affidavits submitted by the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana on the recent Gujjar violence which led to a trail of 30 deaths and massive destruction of public and private properties.

The apex court said it was seeking clarification from the Union Government and all the states as destruction of public property has become a common phenomenon in the country.