The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought response of former IAS officer and activist Harsh Mander on the allegations of making an inflammatory speech during anti-CAA protests.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre and Delhi Police brought to the notice of the court about the alleged hate speeches made by Mander.
The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and also comprising justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant asked Solicitor General to file plea on this aspect and directed Mander’s counsel to respond to the allegations.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta produced transcripts of his reported speech at Jamia.
SG quoted Mander’s speech where he allegedly said “I have no faith left in the judiciary”
Taking into consideration the submissions of SG, the bench said, “This is what you think of us. The court said it won’t hear him unless he clarifies on the matter.
Mehta also cited an old plea by Mander in which he had called upon Supreme Court judges to show loyalty to the nation and asked for the recusal of former Supreme Court chief justice Ranjan Gogoi in the case relating to identification and deportation of illegal immigrants, particularly in Assam.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves referred to alleged hate speeches made by BJP leaders — Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma, Kapil Mishra and Abhay Verma.
Mander had filed a petition seeking registration of FIRs against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Abhay Verma for their alleged hate speeches in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections and at pro-CAA gatherings.
The bench has sought the response of Mander’s counsel at 2 pm and the hearing is underway