NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed “for default” a petition seeking action against the city police officials and the farmers protesting on Delhi borders as no one was present during the hearing on behalf of the petitioner when the matter was taken up by the court.
The petition had sought action against the Delhi Police for “failing” to discharge its duty when violence broke out at the Red Fort on the Republic Day following a tractor parade by farmers protesting against central farm laws.
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh observed the petitioner remained unrepresented on the last few occasions as well. “The petition is therefore dismissed for default,” the bench said.
Dhananjai Jain, a resident of Delhi, had filed the petition in January seeking to remove people “squatting under the garb of farmers’ agitation” and to clear off all the roads and public places.
Jain had also sought the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner from his position with immediate effect following the violence on the Republic Day and prayed for a direction to the Centre to put adequate paramilitary forces to protect important monuments and to ensure the safety of life and property of citizens of Delhi and restore the feeling of security amongst them. According to the petition, the farmers’ agitation took a very aggravated and violent turn as the farmers reached Delhi armed with weapons.