Tripura communal violence: SC pulls up state government

New Delhi, February 7

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Tripura Government for not complying with its directions granting interim protection from coercive action to a journalist who had tweeted about communal violence in the state.

“When we have passed an order, how dare you not implement it… At least show deference to our order when we have handled an issue,” a Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud told the advocate representing the Tripura Government.

The top court had on January 10 restrained the Tripura Police from taking any action against Khan

The Bench expressed strong displeasure after advocate Shahrukh Alam, representing journalist Samiullah Shabbir Khan, complained that he was issued notice by the Tripura Police asking him to delete his tweets. The police had also asked him to join the investigation.

“We will ask your home secretary and other officers to be present on the screen next time (if its orders are flouted),” the Bench warned the Tripura Government counsel and asked the state not to harass the petitioner.

As Alam asked the court to grant protection to his client, the Bench said, “Please ask them to file a petition before us and then we hear it after two weeks”.