Plea in SC for safe atmosphere at Patiala House court

The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday a petition by a JNU alumnus seeking safe and conducive atmosphere in the Patiala House court complex in the wake of Monday's incident when students and journalists were beaten up by lawyers.

Appearing for former student N.D. Jaiprakash, senior counsel Indira Jaisinh mentioned the matter before the bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and said that there was a threat to the life of Kanhaiya Kumar -- the JNU students' union president, who has been charged with sedition.

As Jaisinh said it was a serious matter requiring the court's intervention, Chief Justice Thakur said that it will be taken up on Wednesday.

The plea by Jaiprakash is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday morning as it is listed as matter before the bench of Justice J.Chelameswar and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.

Jaiprakash, who was a councillor in the JNUSU in 1973, told IANS that "what had happened yesterday at Patiala House Court is totally unacceptable and is contempt of court".

The four directions sought by the JNU alumnus Jaiprakash who had studied at JNU's School of Languages includes direction to police to provide full protection to Kanhaiya Kumar within and outside the court.

He has sought direction to police to ensure that "the proceedings against Kanhaiya Kumar at the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen, is carried out in a manner which is not prejudicial to the fundamental rights of the persons, such as the petitioner (Jaiprakash), attending the proceedings".

He has sought further direction that the court room was "free of persons causing physical harm, any form of intimidation or any disturbance whatsoever".

Jaiprakash has also sought directions for that "proper and appropriate action" was taken against any person who was involved in obstructing the proceedings against Kanhaiya Kumar before the court in any manner.

He has also sought direction for the safe custody of the "CCTV footage in and around the said court - which may be used as evidence in any further proceedings in the matter".