The Supreme Court on Thursday strongly disapproved the midnight police crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev’s “sleeping” supporters at Ramlila Maidan in June last year when he was on a hunger strike. In view of the concurrent findings on the “arbitrariness” of the crackdown, the top court directed the Delhi police commissioner that his officials found using “excessive force” like indulging in brick-batting, lathicharge and tear gassing upon the peaceful crowd, be proceeded against by registering criminal cases. “This action shall be taken against the officers/personnel irrespective of the ranks they hold.”
The commissioner was also directed to register cases against those supporters of Ramdev, who indulged in “violent” activities like damaging public properties and hurling bricks on the police. The police was given three months time to complete the probe and file chargesheet against the “guilty” form both sides.
Apart from ordering registration of cases against “guilty” police officials, the top court further directed the police commissioner to take disciplinary action against them as per the police manual. On Ramdev’s role in contributing in the unnecessary action after he had refused to call off his agitation when the authorities had asked him to do so, the top court said he was “held guilty of contributory negligence.” The trust run by him and its representatives given permission for “yoga camp” in the ground should have discharged their legal duty and fully co-operated in the effective implementation of lawful order passed by the authority under Section 144 CrPC.
“The kind of stature Baba Ramdev enjoyed with his followers, it was expected of him to request the gathering to disperse peacefully and leave the ground. He and his representatives were also bound by the constitutional and fundamental duty to safeguard public property and abjure violence,” the top court said.