SC seeks response of UP govt on plea of jailed Bhim army chief Chandrashekhar

The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea filed by jailed Dalit leader and Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad challenging his detention under stringent provisions of the National Security Act (NSA).

Azad alias Ravan is in jail after his arrest in June 2017 for his alleged role in the Saharanpur riots. The NSA provisions were invoked against the 'Dalit' leader almost six months after his arrest.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submissions of senior advocate Colin Gonsalves that the Bhim Army chief has been in jail without any relief and issued the notice to the state government.

The petition claimed that the fundamental rights of Azad have been violated.

Azad, accused of rioting, was arrested from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh on June 8, 2017 by a Special Task Force (STF) team of the Uttar Pradesh police.

Dalits had clashed with Rajputs in Shabbeerpur (Saharanpur) on May 2 last year, after a dispute arose over loud music being played during a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession. One man was killed and around 25 houses were burnt in the subsequent inter-caste clashes.

Chandrashekhar was later arrested and booked under the NSA.