By Seema Khan
The government at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh has no regard left for law and the judiciary. They are law unto themselves. Recently, Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh had put up posters and hoardings with photographs and addresses of alleged 53 anti-CAA protesters at highly visible points in Lucknow.
These posters called them rioters, which included lawyers, women activists, politicians and a former police officer and a minor.
Adivision bench comprising of justice Govind Mathur and justice Ramesh Sinha had taken Suo moto cognizance of governments action. Citing the right to privacy as the fundamental human right recognised by United nations and Supreme Court ,the judges said that displaying hoardings with photos on roadside was an ‘ unwarranted interference in privacy ‘.
Justice Govind Mathur made a strong remark that the government was impinging on privacy, respect and freedom and called it illegal move. And further the judges said that the courts are meant to impart justice and no c court can shut its eyes if a public unjust is happening before it.
The Allahabad High court declared the move as highly unjust and absolute encroachment on personal liberty of the citizens and said ‘privacy is intrinsic component of Part III of the constitutionand all executive actions must abide by them”.
And the court further said why the “advocate general of the state has failed to satisfy why placement of banners is necessar for a democratic society for a legitimate aim”, and directed the hoardings removed.
What could be the repercussions of these hoardings? This is an open invitation to hooligans of BJP, RSS and Bajrang Dal to attack these people and they are vulnerable to any attack or being hounded by hate mongers. No law has been created to nab these unruly mobs. Lynchers go unpunished and they are garlanded and welcomed instead by BJP and RSS for their ‘heroic’ deeds.
Kapil Mishra who was the mastermind of Delhi riots and given hate speeches during Delhi elections has been rewarded with Y+ security cover instead of being put in jail. Kapil Gujjar who fired at Shaheen Bagh protesters was released on bail, and was welcomed by a huge crowed with garland and sweets. He was released in spite of being opposed that the offence was very serious and the investigation was at crucial stage.
While criminals and riot instigators are walking free, Dr. Kafeel Khan who had saved hundreds of lives is put in jail under National Security Act (NSA) for participating in a peaceful anti-CAA protests.
Justice Murlidhar who was recently transferred overnight from Delhi to Punjab and Haryana high court for his strong reaction on Delhi riots had said in 2019; consolidated killings, custodial torture and extra judicial killings have increased since 2019, and sharpshooting policemen have been valorised. More the state indulges in lawlessness, stronger will be the message that goes out to Hindutva mobs, that they can ignore the law and indulge in serious crime.
