SC seeks all Delhi HC orders on lawyer-cop clashes

The Supreme Court on Monday sought all orders passed by the Delhi High Court on the PIL for action against cops who staged protest at the Delhi Police headquarters following the lawyers-police clash at Tis Hazari court complex and other court complexes.

A Bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justice Indira Banerjee, hearing a plea filed by advocate G.S. Mani, seeking disciplinary action against cops, said it was not willing to initiate a parallel hearing as the Delhi High Court was already seized of the matter.

When the petitioner said the apex court should examine the matter, Justice Mishra said, "Why should the Supreme Court intervene when the Delhi High Court is dealing with the issue? That's not right."

But when the petitioner insisted on the top court intervention, the court observed in this scenario it would like to see what orders had been passed by the high court, and, in fact, it should look into all the orders passed on the issue.

Justice Mishra said, "We are not dismissing your petition, and you should place all the orders of the high court before this court. We would like to see what orders have the high court passed, and is there anything more to be done?"

After the brief hearing, the apex court set December 16 for further hearing.

The Delhi High Court taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the clashes between lawyers and police ordered a judicial inquiry by Justice (retd) S.P. Garg, a former judge of the high court, into the matter.

Lawyers and police were involved in violent clashes, including incidents of vehicles being set afire, over a parking dispute at the Tis Hazari Court complex.

Following the clashes, hundreds of Delhi Police personnel protested, which was virtually a revolt, outside the police headquarters for half-a-day on November 5.IANS