[Breaking] Hoardings displaying Anti-CAA riots accused: Allahabad High Court to deliver judgment at 2 pm tomorrow

The Allahabad High Court will deliver its judgment tomorrow at 2pm on the suo motu case registered over posters put up by the police having photographs of anti-CAA protestors.

The Bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha had taken up the matter earlier this morning. The Bench reserved orders in the matter following a hearing that started this afternoon.

In the hearing held this afternoon, the Advocate General Raghvendra Singh argued that the High Court Bench had no jurisdiction to take up this matter suo motu, given that the posters were displayed in Lucknow. Chief Justice Mathur, however, responded that the High Court has jurisdiction over matters concerning the entire state.

The Bench further intimated that this aspect would also be clarified in the judgment to be pronounced in the matter.

The Advocate General also argued that the hoardings were put to deter other people from doing similar acts and to maintain strict law and order. He further argued that the PIL is meant for law followers and not lawbreakers.

These banners display pictures of accused who allegedly caused damage to public property during the anti-CAA-NRC protests that took place on December 19, 2019.

Pictures of 29 accused, mentioning that they are "Joint and Severally" liable to pay Rs. 64,37,637/- to the government were thereby exhibited.

This morning, the Court pulled up the state authorities for putting up the hoardings. Additional Advocate General Neeraj Tripathi appeared for the State. The Court thereafter directed that the matter be posted for 3 pm today for further hearing.