The Supreme Court today (July 17) took strong exception to mob-lynching incidents, be it in the name of cow vigilantism or in the wake of rumour mongering, saying that it is the duty of the government to maintain law and order and that “mobocracy can’t be allowed in a democracy.”
“No citizen can become a law onto himself… State should safeguard democratic and secular ethos and protect the Constitution,” the apex court stated while hearing a bunch of petitions filed over recent mob lynching and vigilantism cases.
#BREAKING | #SupremeCourt asks #Parliament to examine the possibility of enacting a new law into mob-lynching incidents, fixes matter for further hearing on August 28 pic.twitter.com/o4VpYC94sT
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) July 17, 2018
It has also asked the Centre and State governments to implement punitive measures within four weeks. The apex court has fixed Aug 28 as the next date of hearing in the case.
The development comes in the wake of a spurt in mob lynching incidents, including the Dokmoka incident when a savage mob lynched Abhijeet Nath and Nilotpal Das amid child-lifting rumours on the night of June 8.
Incidentally, Nilotpal Das’ father had in a special interview to News Live advocated the need for stringent measures, including an anti-lynching law, to deal with Dokmoka-like incidents.
