New Delhi . The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the petition filed demanding action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The petitions in this case were filed by CPIM, CPI leader Annie Raja and Assamese scholar Hiren Gohain. The bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi has directed the petitioners to approach the High Court. The court ordered, “All these issues can be effectively adjudicated upon by the jurisdictional High Court. We see no reason to hear the same here and hence we remand the petitioner to the jurisdictional High Court. We request the Chief Justice of the High Court to give priority to the hearing as the counsel has cited the urgency in the matter.”
Petitioner’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Himanta Biswa Sarma has given statement in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh along with Assam, hence the Supreme Court should hear this matter. Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that a Chief Minister who has taken oath on the Constitution. He is a constitutional officer, but he has violated that oath.
In these petitions, citing CM Sarma’s ‘Mian Muslim’ statement and his viral video on social media, there was a demand for registration of FIR and SIT investigation.
The court clarified that it has the authority to hear the case directly, but it is not in favor of adopting ‘shortcuts’.
CJI Surya Kant said, “We already have pending cases which have to be settled. The entire effort is to demoralize the High Court. There is a planned attempt to weaken the High Court.”
He said, “You have not yet gone to the High Court. We are confident that the High Court can look into this and take a decision.” The court said that this matter should be heard by the High Court first. The High Court is fully prepared to deal with this case.
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