Delhi High Court will today hear a bunch of pleas seeking independent SIT investigation into the Delhi Riots of 2020 and registration of FIRs against politicians for alleged hate speeches and action to be taken against errant police officials.
A division bench comprising of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar will be hearing the matter.
Hearing commences.
Court: Why is it listed today?
Court is informed that notice was issued in hate speeches case.
Justice Mridul: We don't see Mr. Gonsalves and Ms. Mathur.
Would all of you like to address us today? Will all the counsel be here today?, asks Justice Mridul to other counsels appearing in Court.
Counsel for one of the petitioners seek a short date.
J. Mridul: This is that matter where the SC at your instance directed this to be disposed of within specific time period. And you don't take the step of submitting court fee.
J. Mridul: Till the time the impleadment applications aren't decided, we can't hear the petitions on merits
You are making allegations against some individuals, they aren't here because you don't file process fee.
Court: If anybody was served, they would have been here.
Counsel responds that dasti service was done to proposed respondents.
Court: The thing is if this goes on for too long, you will then again file an application before SC saying HC is taking too long.
We will have to record that no court fee was filed.
Court: Notice couldn't be issued to proposed respondents no 5-8 on account of the circumstance that process fee was not filed. On the petitioner filing process fee within two days from today, let fresh notice issue to the proposed respondents by all permissible notes.
Court now records same order in another application: Notice couldn't be issued to proposed respondents owing to the circumstance that the petitioner didn't file process fee.
Court: In addition, it is observed from memo of parties that the petitioner has not provided any address qua proposed respondents 15-23.
This proposed respondent no 23 is a retired judge?!!, orally remarks Justice Mridul.
Court: And they can't find his address. Mr. Swain what is going on, you don't seem to be serious prosecuting this petition.
You want to drop them, you want them to be impleaded as respondents, what do you want?
Advocate Swain: For the time being, i am not pressing 15-23.
Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar: file amended memo and drop them.
Adv. Swain: I will file amended memo. For today i am seeking time. I have to seek instructions.
Court continues to record order in the second impleadment application: On the petitioner taking steps, of filing process fee as well as furnishing addresses qua proposed respondents 15-23 both within two days from today, let notice issue to said proposed respondents.
Court will now hear the matters next on April 29.
