Delhi High Court questions approach to petitions on 2020 riots
The Delhi High Court on Friday asked petitioners seeking FIRs against certain political leaders for alleged hate speeches and an independent SIT probe into the 2020 riots why they did not approach the Supreme Court, which is seized of a similar matter.
The bench noted that since a petition seeking similar relief based on the same material is already pending in the Supreme Court, there is no need for two hearings in two different courts.
“As of date we are asking, would it not be advisable that you people also go to the Supreme Court and make your submissions there. Because you all are seeking the same relief on the basis of the same material. Why should there be two hearings in the same matter, this is what we are asking. You all can be impleaded there and argue your case on the same material. Why keep it pending here,”
The bench, comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain, stated that the high court's order was challenged before the Supreme Court and is currently pending there, with the prayers sought in the ongoing batch matters covered by that petition.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing petitioner Shaikh Mujtaba Farooq, argued that he seeks an independent SIT investigation involving officers from outside the state, a prayer he contends can only be granted by a constitutional court.
Summary: The court encouraged petitioners to pursue relief in the Supreme Court where a related matter is already pending, emphasizing that duplicative hearings in separate courts may be unnecessary.