VHP yatra: HC dismisses PIL to release detenues

The court said there was no need to interfere and accordingly the PIL was dismissed

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction for the release of people detained in connection with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) yatra and asking to compensate them.

The PIL, filed by local lawyer Ranjana Agnihotri and five others, was dismissed by a Lucknow bench comprising Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.

The bench said the PIL was vague in nature and based on news reports without disclosing names and addresses of alleged detainees. The court said there was no need to interfere while dismissing the PIL.

Appearing on behalf of the state government, additional advocate-general Madhulika Yadav, opposed the PIL saying it was not maintainable. Yadav said it was filed without proper pleading and disclosing the fact as alleged.

The petitioners in the PIL, filed on Thursday, alleged that 1,661 people were illegally detained under various sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure since August 25, only because they were connected with the Parikrama.

It sought direction to release all the persons and a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to all of them.

The PIL also sought direction for taking appropriate action against officers and their subordinates responsible for arresting innocent people.