SC rejects petition on Gujjar agitation

The bench also questioned Pallav Shishodia, counsel for the petitioner, as to why he did not approach the apex court immediately after the agitation turned violent a year ago.

It pointed out that since the petitioner had moved a petition before the High Court, he was bound to wait for its verdict on the issue.

Lakhan Singh in his petition before the apex court had alleged that the Rajasthan Government despite specific directions from the High Court to act tough in preventing violence had been going soft on the community’s agitators due to political compulsions.

Singh in his petition submitted that the Gujjar leaders like Kirori Singh Bainsla and Roop Singh had committed contempt of the Rajasthan High Court by defying the various orders passed by it.

According to the petitioner, the Rajasthan High Court in a series of directions had restrained the Gujjar community from indulging in violence, “rasta roko” and bandhs that could violate the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

But despite the directions, the Gujjar community, had resorted to large scale violence in Rajasthan and several other northern States to put pressure on the Government for granting it ST status.