The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking independent investigations into the 2020 communal riots in northeast Delhi and violence at Jamia Millia Islamia during protests against India’s citizenship law in 2019.
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain dismissed the petitions after considering separate sets of pleas concerning the two incidents.
“For the reasons mentioned in the judgment, all the petitions are dismissed,” the bench said while pronouncing its order. A detailed judgment is awaited.
The court had reserved its verdict on July 24.
The petitions concerning the northeast Delhi riots sought the creation of a special investigation team (SIT), commission of inquiry or fact-finding committee to investigate the violence. Some petitioners also sought directions for medical treatment and compensation for victims, as well as registration of cases against police officers allegedly responsible for dereliction of duty.
Some pleas also sought action against political leaders over alleged hate speeches and an independent SIT to investigate the violence and the conduct of police officers.
Communal violence erupted in northeast Delhi on Feb. 24, 2020, during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). At least 53 people were killed and hundreds were injured.
The other petitions related to violence at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019 after protests against the CAA. The petitioners alleged that police had used excessive force against students and argued that the allegations should be investigated by an SIT independent of the Delhi Police and the central government.
The CAA, passed by parliament in December 2019, fast-tracked citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from three neighbouring countries, excluding Muslims. Its passage triggered protests across India.
The Delhi High Court’s detailed judgment is expected to set out the reasons for rejecting the petitions.
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