The Delhi High Court Friday pulled up the Delhi Police for its failure to take any action against one Jagdish Singh who allegedly made a hate speech against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani stated that the Court would now not be doing its accountability if no action is taken against Singh for making hate speech against Zubair.
“You went hammer and tongs against him (Zubair). But the case has now ended in a whimper as it should have because there was no evidence against him. But what action have you taken against this man (Singh),” the Court requested Delhi Police’s suggest.
The Court made the observations whilst listening to a petition through Zubair in the hunt for quashing of the FIR registered against him.
The incident dates again to 2020 when Zubair in his tweet, had known as out Singh for being a troll and retweeted his show image which featured his daughter however after pixelating/ blurring the daughter’s symbol.
The tweet learn,
“Hello Jagdish Singh. Does your cute grand daughter know about your part time job of abusing people on social media? I suggest you to change your profile pic.”
Subsequently, Zubair used to be booked through the Delhi Police which invoked the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offices (POCSO) Act in addition to sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal code for allegedly “threatening and torturing” a minor woman on Twitter.
This induced Zubair to way the High Court to quash the case.
The Delhi Police later filed an affidavit before the High Court announcing it has now not named Zubair within the chargesheet as it didn’t to find any illegal activity against him.
During the listening to of the subject lately, Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) showing for the Delhi Police informed the Court that the chargesheet has been filed within the case and Zubair isn’t named in it. Therefore, a quietus can also be put to the problem, the suggest stated.
However, Justice Bhambhani replied that the Supreme Court has time and again known as for strict action against hate speeches and has stated that despite the fact that there’s no grievance, police will have to sign up a suo motu case.
“How can we put a quietus to the issue without complying with the Supreme Court’s directions… Supreme Court’s words are our command. How can we let it go like that,” the Court remarked.
It added,
“The matter has to be taken with seriousness. I cannot let it go like this without compliance of the Supreme Court’s orders. Tell me what steps you (Delhi Police) have taken.”
Meanwhile, suggest showing for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) stated that the prayer made through Zubair in his petition are preposterous.
Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose, who seemed for Zubair, replied that the NCPCR’s submissions have been preposterous and that this is a statutory frame which has been weaponised.
Justice Bhambhani then directed Delhi Police to document a standing file within the case and provide an explanation for what steps it has taken against Singh.
Delhi Police’s suggest confident the Court that Supreme Court’s instructions on hate speech shall be complied with.
As the Court indexed the case for additional attention at the subsequent date, Ghose requested the subject to be stored as part-heard. However, Justice Bhambhani stated that he’s going to now not do it at this level.
The case will now be thought to be on September 14, 2023.