Rohatgi to appear pro bono in lawyers’ PIL for mechanism against racial violence; SIT probe into Nido Taniam’s death

Close on the heels of the death of Nido Taniam of Arunachal Pradesh in a racial attack, seven lawyers (Petitioners) have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court. The petition has asked for the framing of a mechanism to deal with racial atrocities..Speaking to Bar & Bench, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi confirmed that he will appear in the matter pro bono..In the petition, a copy of which is with Bar & Bench, the Petitioners have stated that they are,.“Deeply disturbed with the recent spate of events in the National Capital Territory of Delhi involving racial atrocities/ discrimination of citizens of this country particularly from the North Eastern States. The scar of racial atrocities/ discrimination has threatened the unity and integrity of this country and the very idea of India/ Bharat visualized by the Framers of our Constitution to abolish “discrimination” be it racial, caste, religion, sex or place of birth.”.Referring to the prejudice, hate and racial taunts and violence suffered by Indians from the north eastern States due to their physical appearances “in the hands of people who are supposed to be their own countrymen”, the petition also states that,.“The paradox of Secular India can be traced to the fact that while the students from the North-Eastern India learn about the culture and traditions of the rest of the Country, the rest of India unfortunately have little knowledge about the whole North-Eastern States due to the lack of curriculum on the North Eastern States, in the layout of our Educational system. This has resulted in creation of situation where the people of North-Eastern States are looked down with ignorance, as aliens and foreigners in their own Country.”.Referring to the death of Nido Taniam, the Petitioners have submitted that the police officers who acted in complicity with the accused persons are equally culpable and needs to be tried and punished according to law. They have also alleged that the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Delhi Police and headed by DCP (South-East) is an eyewash and would serve no purpose as it is headed by an officer of the Delhi Police..In the interim application filed along with the PIL, the Petitioners have submitted that the existing penal provisions – Sections 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code – have failed to curb the menace..Claiming violation of Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution, the Petitioners have prayed for a direction to the Centre and all the State governments to frame a mechanism to deal with racial atrocities. They have also sought a probe into the death of Nido Taniam by a Special Investigation Team headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and comprising of an officer from the North-East and also prayed for revamping the educational system by adding texts pertaining to north eastern region..The matter will be heard tomorrow..Image of protest taken from here.