BackDelhi HC reserves order in Shiv Sena MPs force-feeding PIL
After hearing the arguments of the govt and the NGO, the court says it will consider the matter
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New Delhi: The Delhi high court reserved its order in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the case of alleged force-feeding of a fasting Muslim employee of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) by Shiv Sena members of Parliament (MPs) at the new Maharashtra Sadan during the month of Ramadan.
A video of Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare, upset with the quality of the food being served, force-feeding the catering supervisor Arshad Zubair had surfaced, drawing severe criticism from all ends of the political spectrum. IRCTC had the catering contract at Maharashtra Sadan.
Since no action had been taken against the 11 Shiv Sena MPs involved in the incident, a PIL was filed in the Delhi high court by an NGO called Garib Nawaz Foundation.
In the PIL, the NGO had sought directions for suspension of these MPs from Parliament as well as registration of criminal cases against them. The PIL had also asked the high court to set up a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of a sitting judge of the high court to inquire into the matter and de-recognition of Shiv Sena by the Election Commission.
Additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, appearing for the government, said that “the government is committed to the social and secular fabric of the country" and the incident was “regrettable and unfortunate". He stated that the victim himself had not filed a case against the MPs.
After hearing the arguments of the government and the NGO, the division bench of chief justice G. Rohini and justice Jayant Nath said that they would consider the matter.
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