SC to Hear Plea on Prez Rule in Bengal Over Waqf Violence

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear an application seeking imposition of President's Rule in West Bengal in the context of recent violence in the state over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, even as it spoke for the first time on the criticism of judicial overreach in recent judgments.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

A bench headed by Justice Bhushan R Gavai was hearing a fresh application filed by West Bengal-based social worker Devdutta Maji and advocate Mani Munjal who sought President's Rule after clashes in Murshidabad since April 13 left three dead and 18 policemen injured.

Responding to lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain's request for considering imposition of President's Rule, the bench, also comprising Justice AG Masih, said, "You want us to issue a writ of mandamus to impose President's Rule. As it is, we are being blamed for encroaching upon the legislative and executive functions." The petition will be heard on Tuesday.

In a parallel proceeding, a separate bench of the top court comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh heard two petitions demanding an independent probe into the Murshidabad violence case. The court permitted the two petitioners—advocates Vishal Tiwari and Shashank Shekhar Jha—to withdraw their petitions, as the court found the pleadings to be based on media reports, lacking the decency and standards expected in a matter to be filed before the top court, and for not naming the government officials as parties against whom allegations of inaction are alleged.