Delhi Riots: L-G Overturns AAP Govt’s Decision On Lawyers’ Panel

More than 55 people were killed in the riots that engulfed the north-eastern region of the national capital Delhi, but due to mutual conflict, it has become difficult to investigate the riots and get justice in the court. LG Anil Baijal has dismissed the panel of lawyers constituted by the Delhi government for the Delhi riots and has instead issued an order to approve the panel of Delhi Police. But the role of Delhi Police in this riot is questionable and questions are again being raised over the approval to its panel.

The Delhi government says that the proposal of the Delhi Police was considered along with the suggestion of the Delhi Government and the Deputy Governor at the meeting of the Delhi Cabinet. During this time it was decided that those who are guilty of causing communal violence in Delhi should be punished severely. It was also decided that the innocent should not be harassed or punished. For this reason, the Delhi cabinet had agreed to appoint a Delhi government’s panel of lawyers instead of Delhi Police’s panel. The Delhi government’s cabinet had rejected a panel of Delhi Police saying that this would not lead to a transparent and impartial hearing in riot cases in north-east Delhi.

During the hearing of the Delhi riots in the Delhi High Court, judge Suresh Kumar said in relation to the riots that the Delhi Police is misusing judicial process and the court also questioned the fairness of the Delhi Police. In this situation, due to the approval of the Delhi Police panel, a fair investigation into the Delhi riots was suspected. For this reason, the Delhi government’s cabinet did not approve the panel of Delhi Police.