CAA Protests | Rioting Must Stop: CJI Bobde

Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde on Monday said that "rioting"must stop and there should be peace. The CJI's statement comes after senioradvocate Indira Jaising mentioned Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh MuslimUniversity incidents before a bench headed by the chief justice.

Jaising had asked Supreme Court to take suo motocognizance of the issue saying 'It's a very serious human rights violation allover the country.' In response, CJI Bobde, however, says that the courts can'tdo much in the case and police have to deal with it. Just because they happento be students it doesn't mean they can take law and order in their own hands,he says relegating the blame of yesterday's violence to the students.

CJI Bobde said, "We will determine the rights but notin the atmosphere of riots, let all this stop and then we will take suo motocognizance. We are not against rights and peaceful demonstrations."

He further stated that the Supreme Court would not be bullied, and can't be held to ransom while public properties are destroyed. The court observed that just being students, they can't take law into their own hands, adding that it would hear the matter on Tuesday if no violent protests take place.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde on Mondayalso took serious note of the rioting and destruction of public property duringprotests against the Act and said this must stop immediately. "The onlything we want is that the violence must stop," the bench said, adding,"If protests and violence and damage of public property will be there, wewill not hear the matter". The bench also comprising justices B R Gavaiand Surya Kant asked the lawyers to file their petitions and said it would hearthem tomorrow.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hold ahearing on the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, held inDelhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University and Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh MuslimUniversity on Tuesday.