SC asks Delhi HC to hear pleas on Delhi violence, hate speeches on Friday

Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde said as quoted by NDTV, "We are of the view that in the interest of justice, the cases be listed before the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on Friday.

All other connected matters on the same subject which were adjourned, may be advances and taken up on Friday. We request the High Court to deal with these cases expeditiously."

The Delhi High Court on last Thursday gave one month to the Centre to give an update on the action taken against the hate speeches given by the BJP leaders allegedly inciting violence in the national capital that has claimed 48 lives (as per last update) leaving more than 300 others injured.

A group of victims in the deadly violence had approached the top court after the Delhi High Court gave the Centre four weeks' time.

"We think that adjournment of such long period (by the High Court) is unjustified. We also do not want to assume jurisdiction of HC when it is seized of the matter," CJI Bobde said.

A two-judge bench of Delhi High Court- headed by Justice S Muralidhar- pulled up the Delhi cops on last Wednesday and urged them to file the First Information Reports (FIRs) against four BJP men- Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Abhay Verma- over their hate speeches.

Also the judges had played the videos of the hate speeches given by the four BJP men.

Just days before the violence, Mishra was heard threatening police to take action if they fail to clear the roads blocked by the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protestors within three days.

During the campaign for the Delhi assembly elections, which were held on Feb 8, Thakur had led a crowd to chant "shoot the traitors" at a public meeting.

What did the HC bench say on last Wednesday?

Slamming the central and Delhi governments, Justice Muralidhar on Wednesday said the court cannot let another 1984 riot, which took place after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to happen.

The High Court judge also asked the central and Delhi government to work together to combat the violence in the national capital.

Transfer of Justice S Muralidhar

Justice S Muralidhar was transferred to Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday night, triggering a political slugfest between the ruling BJP and Congress.

The notification of Justice Muralidhar's transfer, which was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on Feb 12, was however issued at 11 pm on last Wednesday.