Roorkee Dharam Sansad | Ensure No Hate Speeches Are Made: SC Directs Uttarakhand Chief Secretary

The court also asked the top official to file an affidavit and explain the preventive steps taken so far and no untoward statement will be made at the event. 

Supreme Court of India

Source : ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the Uttarakhand government for allowing the Dharm Sansad event despite prior notice and asked the state's Chief Secretary to ensure that "no hate speeches are made" at the event to be held in Roorkee on Wednesday.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar also asked the top official to file an affidavit and explain the preventive steps taken so far and no untoward statement will be made at the event. 

When senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioners, informed the apex court about another scheduled Dharm Sansad event in Roorkee tomorrow, the bench told counsel of Uttarakhand, "We are now informing you about an event tomorrow. Take action." 

It even warned that the Chief Secretary would be asked to be present if the state failed to take preventive steps in view of Dharm Sansad proposed in Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

"There is no confidence that such a thing will not happen again. You know what is said at these Dharm Sansad," the bench observed. 

"You know what are preventive measures... you will have to do it. And if it still happens, we will ask the Chief Secretary to remain present. We are directing you to take all these steps. You are bound to. You are not doing a favour on us by following the directions," the bench told the counsel appearing for the Uttarakhand government. 

It also recorded the statement of the counsel for Uttarakhand that the Dharm Sansad event which is set to take place tomorrow will not have any "untoward incident". 

While the state of Uttarakhand's counsel told the apex court to have "trust and faith in them", the bench reminded the Uttarakhand government about the judgment passed by the Supreme Court regarding preventive measures.

It said, "Trust is for everyone but things are different on the ground. Despite the repeated pronouncement of this court, there is the Poonawala judgment and subsequent judgment enlarging the precautionary measures to be taken and corrective measures to be taken, yet things are happening." 

Sibal said another application has been filed by the petitioners against the proposed Dharm Sansad event in Roorkee tomorrow. 

The apex court also asked the Himachal Pradesh's Secretary of Home Department to file an affidavit regarding the preventive and corrective measures taken after the Dharm Sansad event which took place from April 17 to April 19 in Himachal Pradesh's Una. 

It directed that the affidavit be filed on or before May 7 and posted the matter for hearing on May 9. 

Counsel for Himachal Pradesh submitted that preventive measures were taken by the government.