A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi asked the petitioners to move to the Gauhati High Court.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain the pleas seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a purported video showing him firing a rifle at Muslim community members.
The video allegedly posted by the Assam BJP on its X handle was deleted soon after but not before it went viral, triggering a massive political row in the poll-bound state and prompting severe criticism from the Opposition.
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A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi asked the petitioners to move to the Gauhati High Court.
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“Why haven’t you gone to the Gauhati High Court?” the court asked and suggested the petitioners not to undermine its authority.
Noting that it has become a trend to move to the top court instead of relevant High Courts, the bench asked parties to use restraint and remain within the boundaries of constitutional morality.
“This is a disturbing trend that every matter ends up here,” the Supreme Court remarked.
The apex court also asked the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to expedite the hearing in this regard.
‘If I had made that video…’: Owaisi attacks Assam CM over deleted clip
What was the video controversy
last week, the Assam BJP had posted a video clip of Himanta Biswa Sarma on its social media account. The clip showed Himanta holding a rifle and taking aim at a poster that showed people wearing skull-caps.
One of the persons on the poster resembled Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, against whom Himanta has levelled serious allegations, including having links with Pakistan. “Point blank shot,” read the caption of the post.
The clip also contained phrases such as “No mercy to Bangladeshis”, “Why did you go to Pakistan?” and “Foreigner-free Assam”.
The Congress was quick to flag the video and accused CM Sarma of spreading hatred. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, said, “This is who the BJP really is: mass murderers. This venom, hatred and violence is on you Mr Modi. Are the courts and other institutions sleeping?”.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said that the video was a “call to genocide”.
“This is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content. It is poison spread from the very top, and there must be consequences for this,” Venugopal said on X.
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