The Delhi High Court has sought an explanation from Delhi Police for not initiating a magisterial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar encounter, despite NHRC guidelines to do so. “NHRC has been asking from the day one for compliance with the guidelines (for magisterial inquiry). Tell us what has been decided by the Lt Governor on the issue,” a bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said, directing the police to file an affidavit in this regard. The court was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO, Act Now For Harmony and Democracy, seeking a judicial inquiry into the encounter on September 19 in which two Muslim youth allegedly involved in Delhi serial blasts and a police inspector were killed.
In another development Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on January 20 favoured a judicial inquiry into the Batla House shootout. “In democracies, it is always better to make things clear,” Singh said when asked about his opinion on the shootout. To a question whether a judicial probe into the incident, as has been demanded by many quarters, would help in making it clear, Singh replied saying, “Why not? Judicial enquiry will give clarity in the case.”
Several quarters, including Samajwadi Party and Jamia Milia Islamia University had already demanded a judicial probe into the incident.