Supreme Court Seeks Response from Centre and Six States in PIL on Mob Violence Against Minorities

New Delhi, July 28, 2023: The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, raising serious concerns about the surge in incidents of mob violence against minorities. The PIL seeks immediate interim compensation for the families of victims of mob lynching.

Justices BR Gavai and JB Pardiwala issued notices to the Central government and the police in six states, namely Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, presented the case before the bench, which subsequently issued the notices after considering the gravity of the matter.

The PIL, drawn by advocate Rashmi Singh and filed through advocate Sumita Hazarila, highlighted the distressing rise in cases of violence and mob lynching targeting the Muslim community. It emphasized the failure of state authorities to take appropriate action despite clear guidelines laid out by the Supreme Court in the Tehseen Poonawalla case to tackle mob violence.

The petitioner asserted that the increase in mob violence is a direct result of the State’s lack of action and adherence to the court’s punitive and remedial measures. It further argued that such incidents stem from a broader narrative of ostracization that minority communities face, driven by false propaganda propagated through public events, hate speech in various media, and films.

The PIL emphasized that a “poison of general communal hate and divide” has permeated a significant portion of the population, acting as a catalyst for mob violence.

The petitioner-association urged the Supreme Court to order a minimum, uniform compensation amount, in addition to ex gratia payments, to be provided to the families of mob violence victims. The compensation should consider the nature of bodily and psychological injuries, incurred expenses, and loss of earnings suffered by the victims.

The PIL seeks to address the alarming rise in mob violence, restore justice to the affected families, and hold the authorities accountable for taking appropriate action to curb such heinous acts.