Pune violence: Uproar over judicial commission

Mumbai: The Congress and others parties have opposed the judicial probe into the Bhima-Koregaon violence that has been constituted under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, alleging it’s a tactics to delay the criminal investigation into the incident. The Opposition has held that the appointment of chief secretary Sumit Mullick to the commission along with retired Chief Justice of Calcutta high court J.N. Patel is wrong and a conflict of interest. It has also opposed the fact that the commission has not been given power under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to punish the offenders, as demanded by Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Prakash Ambedkar.

Acting Chief  Justice Vijaya Kapse Tahilramani had turned down the request of the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint the sitting judge of the high court on the commission to probe the Bhima-Koregaon violence, which occurred on 1 January 2018. Hence, the state government appointed the two-member commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “As per provisions of the Act, the (panel’s) report is not binding on the government and it is delaying the criminal investigation and not arresting the accused.

Meanwhile, Mr Ambedkar said, “The chief secretary is the head of the state administration and he has a supervisory responsibility. Hence while checking role of administration in a judicial probe, Mr Mullick’s appointment would be like judging his own actions and this is self-assessment.” He also criticised the constitution of the commission. He told to The Asian Age that, “Mr Fadnavis has cheated himself because he had announced the appointment of a sitting judge for a probe and would give the commission powers under the CrPC, but has not done anything as per the assurances given.”