No kid hurt in Muharram processions, state tells HC
The Bombay High Court has been told that no children were seen injuring themselves or being injured by others during the Muharram processions this year in the city. A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and Revati Mohte-Dere was hearing a suo motu petition taken up on the basis of two public interest litigations (PILs) disposed of earlier last year.
The State’s Advocate General had earlier assured the court that Muharram processions would be video-graphed by police and they would step in if serious injuries were caused to children.
Chief Public Prosecutor Sandip Shinde told the court that police had video-graphed the processions in the jurisdiction of five police stations and found no instances of children being injured either by themselves or by others.
The court was also informed that police took action against nine people for injuring themselves during the recent Muharram procession. These men were fined Rs 1,200 each.
The court had earlier disposed of two PILs contending that injuries were being inflicted on children during Muharram processions. The PILs had sought direction to the authorities not to allow injuries to be inflicted on children with sharp weapons such as knives and swords.
The court later disposed of the petition after several members of the Shia community raised questions about the intention of the petitioners and converted it into a suo motu proceeding. - MMB
The State’s Advocate General had earlier assured the court that Muharram processions would be video-graphed by police and they would step in if serious injuries were caused to children.
Chief Public Prosecutor Sandip Shinde told the court that police had video-graphed the processions in the jurisdiction of five police stations and found no instances of children being injured either by themselves or by others.
The affidavit filed by the state in the high court assured the court that the authorities would take immediate action if they came across any such incident as part of ritualised mourning in Muharram processions.
The court was also informed that police took action against nine people for injuring themselves during the recent Muharram procession. These men were fined Rs 1,200 each.
The court had earlier disposed of two PILs contending that injuries were being inflicted on children during Muharram processions. The PILs had sought direction to the authorities not to allow injuries to be inflicted on children with sharp weapons such as knives and swords.
The court later disposed of the petition after several members of the Shia community raised questions about the intention of the petitioners and converted it into a suo motu proceeding. - MMB
