The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh Government and the District Magistrate of Pilibhit for slapping the National Security Act against BJP leader Varun Gandhi in connection with his alleged hate speeches.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan posted the matter for hearing on April 13.
The apex court heard a habeas corpus writ filed by Varun Gandhi, challenging the Uttar Pradesh government order under the National Security Act that kept him under preventive detention.
Varun challenged the March 29 decision of the Pilibhit District Magistrate, terming it as politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from contesting the Lok Sabha election. Terming the preventive detention order as “perverse and mala fide” on the face of it, Gandhi said it was an attempt to deprive him of his fundamental right to personal liberty.
He also questioned the Election Commission's decision to advise the BJP not to field him as a candidate.
Earlier, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of Varun before a Bench headed by CJI K.G. Balakrishnan and sought permission to file the petition.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of Varun before a Bench headed by CJI K.G. Balakrishnan and sought permission to file the petition.
{{/usCountry}}The bench allowed the petition to be filed.
Varun was shifted from Pilibhit jail to the high security Etah jail late on Tuesday. His mother Maneka Gandhi visited him in Etah on Wednesday and claimed that that the district administration had not notified anyone before shifting Varun from Pilibhit and accused the authorities of working at the behest of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“We were not aware that Varun was being shifted to Etah jail. No intimation was given to anyone in this regard. This is utmost meanness on the part of the authorities, who are puppets in the hands of the BSP and are working under its direction,” Maneka said.
Varun has written to Home Minister P Chidambaram that his security be upgraded in view of the threat perception. VHP bandh in Bareilly.
The bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Bareilly division on Wednesday drew a mixed reponse. Commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed in Pilibhit. The VHP had called the bandh to protest the invoking of NSA against Varun.