Don’t treat us like the opposition, SC tells Maya

The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh for its "insincerity" and asked it not to play politics with the bench. Bhadra Sinha reports.

The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh for its "insincerity" and asked it not to play politics with the bench.

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A bench headed by Justice BN Agarwal told the state government not to treat the court as its political rival.

The UP government came under attack during the hearing of a contempt plea against the state for allegedly flouting a September 8 judicial order halting further constructions at various Dalit leaders' memorial sites in Lucknow.

The bench said, "What distinguishes democracy from majoritarian rule (demagogy) is the constitution. You don't behave the way you behave with the opposition in the assembly. Don't treat this court as your political adversary and, as if, you have some points to score."

It refused to be taken in by Mayawati government's contention that there was confusion on which memorial site was the court order applicable to.

The bench said, "With deep pain we say that the arguments lack sincerity."

Even senior advocate Harish Salve's arguments failed to impress the court. They told Salve if there was any confusion, his client should have stopped the construction and moved court. "Any responsible government would have dropped the shovel and come to this court," the bench said.