We will monitor Muzaffarnagar violence till the end: SC

The Supreme Court today said it will continue to monitor the probe into the Muzaffarnagar riots and relief and rehabilitation work in violence-hit areas till the end and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file report on steps taken by it.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said it is aware about the prevailing situation and will pass direction if required. It also directed that a PIL pending in the Allahabad High Court be transferred to the apex court.
"We are not closing the writ petition. Till the end we will monitor the development. We are not passing the final order," the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, said.

Meanwhile, the Centre and the state government were seen supporting each other during the hearing of the case. The Centre assured the bench that it is committed to provide all assistance to the state government.
"I am making an unconditional statement that whatsoever is needed by the state government, whether it is a financial assistance or security personnel, will be provided by the Centre," Attorney General G E Vahanvati said.
"No blame game on this. It is a human tragedy and we have to move forward," he submitted.

The court after hearing the arguments of the Centre, state government and the petitioners listed the case for hearing on September 26.

The bench, which gave patient hearing to advocates, however, warned them that they should not file petitions and applications just for the sake of filing.
It said if they are really interested in restoring communal harmony, they should try to help the victims and not indulge in publicity.
"Are you here really for helping the affected families or merely for publicity? How many writ petitions and applications we will go into," the bench asked when one or the other lawyers were making submission.