BackFresh violence in Patiala House, Kanhaiya Kumar assaulted
Unruly behaviour despite apex court's intervention; JNUSU leader in judicial custody till 2 March
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New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar’s judicial custody was extended till 2 March by the metropolitan magistrate, but what should have been the main event was relegated to the sidelines by the continuing unruly behaviour of a group of lawyers at the Patiala House district court.
This, despite the apex court’s intervention following an attack by the lawyers on media persons and JNU students on Monday. Kumar, who has been arrested in a case of sedition, was assaulted within the court complex.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court condemned the attack on journalists and JNU students on 15 February, and directed restricted entry inside court, ahead of the scheduled hearing.
It allowed only the lawyers representing Kumar, his family members, five members of the press and five police personnel, excluding the investigating officer, inside the court complex. In the absence of family, it allowed two faculty members or students of JNU inside.
Twenty-five identified journalists were allowed to be outside the courtroom.
The Supreme Court’s intervention came after JNU alumnus N.D. Jayaprakash sought a non-violent and calm environment in court to ensure Kumar got his day. His lawyers, K.T.S. Tulsi and Raju Ramachandran, said that given the situation in the Patiala House court, there was a chance of Kumar even being lynched by the mob.
“No group can scandalize the court and destabilize the court. What happened on the previous occasion (on 15 February) is certainly condemnable," justices J. Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre said while hearing the case.
Still, neither the top court’s orders nor a heavy police presence could control the mob that had assembled from 10am in the court premises. Lawyers, some of whom had participated in the 15 February attack, were seen giving voice to their nationalist sentiments. They attacked a journalist and three other unidentified persons before the hearing began. The police began barricading the premises outside metropolitan magistrate Loveleen’s court barely minutes before the hearing.
Journalists who were allowed by the Supreme Court were repeatedly threatened by the mob and were not allowed to move for over three hours.
Union finance minster Arun Jaitley voiced his opinion against the attack on media persons on Twitter.
“Media has an unhindered right to report. Attack on media persons is highly improper and condemnable," Jaitley said.
As Kumar was brought to the Patiala House court, he was allegedly kicked and punched. He later told the judge he was assaulted and that one of the alleged attackers was present in the same court. The police made no attempt to restrain this person, who ran from the courtroom.
A senior police officer, who asked not to be identified, said the police would act against the attackers if the court directed them to. “The judge has taken note of the assault on Kumar in court premises. If we are asked to file a case, we will have to do so."
At 3pm, the Supreme Court was once again apprised of the unrest in the court. It formed a six-member panel, comprising lawyers Kapil Sibal, A.D.N. Rao, Hiren P. Rawal, Dushyant Dave, Rajeev Dhavan and Ajit K. Sinha, and sent it to take stock of the situation.
This panel will submit its report to the court by Thursday. The panel informed the court orally that the crowd was unruly and hurled abuses at it too.
The court also asked the Delhi Police to furnish a report on the incident by Friday.
“Why are the agitating lawyers not being detained?" the apex court asked Delhi Police. It made it clear that commissioner of police B.S. Bassi was exclusively responsible for Kumar’s safety. The apex court will hear the case again on 18 February at 2pm.
During Kumar’s hearing, judge Lovleen took note of injuries on Kumar’s body and called for a doctor from the court dispensary to examine him. The doctor later informed the judge that Kumar had sustained minor injuries.
Kumar was subsequently sent to Tihar Jail accompanied by an assistant commissioner of police and four station house officers amid demonstrations against him outside the court.
The Communist Party of India (M) termed the violence in court “a complete break down of authority of the law". “Despite these orders (by the Supreme Court) Kanhaiya was assaulted today (Wednesday) at the Patiala House court under the very nose of the police," the party said in an official statement.
Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju told NDTV on Wednesday that the violence in the court did not indicate “failure of Delhi Police" although he admitted to certain security lapses.
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