SC reiterates need to publicise laws against lynching, mob violence
New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Supreme Court on Monday once again asked the Centre and the states to "absolutely religiously comply" with its orders and give wide publicity on radio, television and other media platforms to its direction that lynching and mob violence of any kind will invite the wrath of law.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud reiterated its order after senior counsel Indira Jaising told the court that its direction to give wide publicity to its July 17 direction through public broadcaster and other media platforms have not been complied with.
Describing the direction as a part of "preventive measures", the court on Monday said: "It has to be borne in mind that the said direction was issued so that people realise the gravity of their act and the effect on the law and order situation. The said purpose has to be put on the high pedestal and people must realise that involvement in such activities will invite the wrath of law."
Saying this, the court noted the statement by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that "the same shall be done, if not already done, within a week hence".
Thereafter, the top court ordered that "all the state governments shall comply with the said direction absolutely religiously within a week from today (Monday)".
The top court by its July 17 judgment had directed the Central and the state governments to "broadcast on radio and television and other media platforms including the official websites of the Home Department and police of the states that lynching and mob violence of any kind shall invite serious consequence under the law".
Noting that none appeared for the NCT Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and the state of Telangana, the court directed them to comply with its direction within a week's time.
The court had by its last order said that the home secretaries of the states and the union territories that would fail to file report on the compliance of its direction would be directed to appear before the court in person.
The court by its July 17 order had issued a series of directions for preventive, remedial and punitive steps to deal with the lynching crime and mob violence.
The court asked senior counsel Sanjay Hegde to prepare a chart, states/UTs-wise giving details of victims of mob violence who have not been given compensation.
The court direction came after Hegde said that some States have framed scheme for the grant of compensation to the victims of mob lynching.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
