Sheer apathy: Judiciary
A JAM-PACKED session of lawyers in the high court on Monday held the State administration and some politicians responsible for the gruesome murder of Mehar Bhargava and negligence in nabbing the criminals thereafter.
A JAM-PACKED session of lawyers in the high court on Monday held the State administration and some politicians responsible for the gruesome murder of Mehar Bhargava and negligence in nabbing the criminals thereafter.
A full court reference, chaired by senior judge Justice Jagdish Bhalla, gave a tearful homage to one of the most beloved members of its family and passed ‘strictures’ against the system that protects criminals and not innocent women and children.
Lawyers gave vent to their wrath over the manner the dastardly act took place and the police lethargy that followed. One senior member said, “They announced a reward of Rs 2,000 on the killer as if announcing a prize for locating a lost dog. They should, if they do not have money, add that this particular dog is mad and must be shot as and when seen.”
Young lawyers wanted to take it to the streets. The leaders, however, gave one week’s time to the chief minister to take action or the final show would begin. They passed a resolution “condemning all those police and administrative officers who have failed in taking an effective measure in the last one month despite the knowledge about the criminals.”
The resolution also drew the attention of the chief minister to the fact that some powerful politicians had forced the police to protect the guilty. “The delay in nabbing the criminals has become a crime in itself.”
“The lawyers would lead a public movement if the actual offenders were not arrested with in a week,” they warned the chief minister.
Avadh Bar Association president Dr. Ashok Nigam addressed the full court reference attended by a large number of lawyers and judges of the high court.
Nigam said the criminals had given such a strong blow to the judiciary this time that its members were shocked to the core and it would take a long time to come out of the shock. “The State Capital has become a den of crime and it is difficult for innocent citizens to walk without fear.”
Justice Bhalla said he understood the emotions of the members of the Bar and the Bench was with them at this time of grief.
