Anti-CAA Protests: Ashwini Upadhyay urges Delhi HC to take suo motu cognizance of loss to public property

Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay today urged the Delhi High Court to take suo motu cognizance of the loss to public property caused by the ongoing anti-CAA protests in the city.

The issue was mentioned by Upadhyay during the course of mentioning before Chief Justice DN Patel's Court.

Claiming that in the last one week, public property worth Rs 20 crore had been been damaged due to the protests, Upadhyay requested the High Court to take up the issue along with the petitions concerning the violence at Jamia Milia Islamia.

Upadhyay said that the Uttar Pradesh Police was recovering the loss to public property from the ones who were causing it. It was Upadhyay's grievance that no such action was being taken by the Delhi Police.

Moving on to the next mentioning, Chief Justice DN Patel said,

"We will see...”

When Upadhyay once again sought for a direction to list it along with the Jamia petitions, Chief Justice Patel remarked,

"We will see as and when it comes..."

Last week. the High Court heard pleas in matters concerning recent violent incidents at the Jamia Milia Islamia University.

The prayers made in these petitions included the constitution of a fact finding committee headed by former Supreme Court or High Court Judges, a direction that no coercive action be taken against the students pursuant to any FIR registered against them till the Committee gives its findings and a direction to provide medical assistance to all injured students along with compensation, and a direction preventing the Delhi Police from entering University premises without the requisite permission.

While issuing notice in the matter, the High Court refused to grant interim protection to the students and posted it for further hearing on February 4,2020.