Dehradun Lathi Charge: High Court dismisses petition seeking action against police personnel
Nainital High Court heard a PIL filed demanding a CBI inquiry into the paper leak of the Subordinate Services Selection Commission and action against the police personnel accused of lathi-charging the unemployed in Dehradun. Taking a tough stand on pelting stones on the police and spreading violence on behalf of the unemployed, the High Court has directed to take strict action against such elements.
The High Court, while hearing the PIL, observed that it appeared that the mob resorted to violence while agitating on the question paper leak issue.
Even though the question papers may have been leaked, this episode cannot give an excuse to anyone to resort to violence, destroy public property or create public nuisance. The High Court has asked the petitioner to file a counter reply within four weeks of the government’s reply.
The High Court said that the petitioner has a fundamental right to register his protest in a peaceful assembly after obtaining proper permission from the administration but he does not have the right to resort to violence. So we cannot accept the demand for action against the police. The case was heard before a division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma.
Vikesh Singh Negi, a resident of Dehradun, had filed a PIL in the High Court saying that for the last few days, students in the state are on the streets due to UKSSSC paper leak and the police is lathi-charging unemployed youth. The government is silent in this matter. The students were sent to jail.
It was said in the petition that the government is not taking any concrete steps against those who leaked the paper. That’s why this matter should be investigated by CBI.
The petitioner also said that he did not trust the local police and STF. UKSSSC, which conducts government exams, has conducted examinations for VDO recruitment, Lekhpal recruitment and Patwari recruitment. The papers of all the three exams were leaked.
