August 10,2018:

On Friday, Supreme Court termed “grave” the incidents of vandalism of private and public properties by various groups during the protests across the country.Apwx Court Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra further added that,"It will not wait for the government to amend the la" .

SC Bench stated that it will issue directions in the matter.

Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted before the Bench that Responsibility should be fixed on authorities like Superintendent of the Police of the area in cases of vandalism and rioting.

While referring to protests on Maratha reservation in Maharashtra, nation-wide violence following Supreme Court verdict in the SC/ST matter and recent incidents of violence involving ‘Kanwarias’, AG Venugopal added that, incidents of violent protests and rioting happen almost every week in one or another part of the country.To this Bench questioned AG Venugopal that, “Then what is your suggestion".

To which he replied that,“Fix the responsibility on the officers concerned,” while pointing out that unauthorised constructions in Delhi had stopped after it was decided that the DDA officer concerned would be held accountable for such construction in his/her area.

Venugopal further added that the Government has been contemplating an amendment in the existing law to deal with such kind of protests and the courts should allow it to change the law suitably.

SC Bench added that,“We will not wait for the amendment. This is a grave situation and this must stop,”. .

SC Bench was hearing a plea filed by the Kodungallur Film Society filed through lawyer P V Dinesh seeking enforcement of Supreme Court’s directions passed in 2009 in one of the verdicts.

The Bench has reserved the orded on the petition.

Issuing a slew of directions, Supreme Court in 2009 stated that organisers of any protests shall be personally held accountable for the loss of private and public property in the stir.

SC Bench had ordered police authorities to videograph such protests so accountability could be fixed.

Source HT

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