Jamia Violence: Investigation at a crucial stage, Solicitor General tells Delhi HC; gets time to file response till April 29

The Delhi High Court today adjourned hearing in a batch of petitions in connection with the police atrocities on the students, teachers and staff of Jamia Millia Islamia University on December 15, 2019 till April 29..Hearing in the petitions was deferred by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the investigation was at a crucial stage..Mehta stated that although the draft response was ready, once the investigation is at a more advanced stage, the Court would have the benefit at of a "holistic view"..Appearing for one of the Petitioners before the High Court, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves today also sought a direction from Court to register an FIR in connection with the Police attack on students in the Jamia Library..He informed the Court that as many as 93 students, teachers and staff have submitted their complaint for registration of FIR against Delhi Police for commission of cognizable offences. It was stated that the complainants also had CCTV footage to support their stance that Police mercilessly beat up students studying in the library..Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for another Petitioner, contended that the Centre ought to have filed its response to the Petitioners in compliance with the last order..Advocate Tariq Khan, for another Petitioner, pressed for constitution of a Fact-Finding Committee. Khan stated that the situation in the area was still tense and the Allahabad High Court had also taken suo moto cognizance of similar instances in Uttar Pradesh..After hearing the parties, the Court adjourned hearing in the petitions to allow Centre and Delhi Police to file their response..Jamia University had witnessed strong action from Delhi Police on December 15, 2019, following anti-Citizenship Act demonstration in its campus. The violence resulted in several students being detained at the Kalka Ji Police station and leaving several others injured..Following a series of Petitions seeking the constitution of a fact finding committee comprising former Supreme Court or High Court Judges, medical assistance to all injured students along with compensation etc, the High Court had in December last year, directed Delhi Police and Centre to file their response..The Court had however refused to pass any direction extending interim relief to students.