New Delhi, April 21 (HS): The sessions court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi has postponed the hearing on a petition challenging the magistrate court's order for an investigation in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case, filed by Delhi's Law Minister Kapil Mishra. Special judge Kaveri Baweja ordered the next hearing in the matter to be on May 7.

Earlier, on April 9, the sessions court had stayed the magistrate court's order and issued a notice to the petitioner in the magistrate court. Kapil Mishra and the Delhi police have filed the petition in the sessions court. It is noteworthy that the magistrate court of Rouse Avenue had ordered an investigation against Kapil Mishra in connection with the Delhi riots. This order was issued by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia. Previously, the Karkardooma Court had also ordered the registration of an FIR against the SHO of Jyoti Nagar police station for negligence in Kapil Mishra's case.

The magistrate court had stated that there are cognizable charges against Kapil Mishra and an investigation should be conducted. The court had directed the Delhi police to investigate the matter. Earlier, the Karkardooma Court remarked that either the investigating officer did not conduct any investigation against Kapil Mishra or made attempts to conceal the charges against him. The court noted that the accused, Kapil Mishra, is a public figure and requires further investigation because such individuals directly influence public opinion. A person living a public life is expected to remain within the constitutional framework.

The Karkardooma Court mentioned that the kind of statements made have a severely detrimental impact on communal harmony. Such statements are not only undemocratic but also an attack on the secular principles of the country. These statements openly violate the fundamental character of the Constitution. The Karkardooma Court stated that Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code pertains to communal and religious harmony. It is linked to the responsibility of every citizen in the country. The accused has the right to exercise his freedom of expression; similarly, he also has a responsibility to preserve communal harmony. A complaint was filed in the Rouse Avenue Court by Mohammad Ilyas.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar