21, Aug 2018 | CJP Team

The Supreme Court has sought the Rajasthan government’s reply to a contempt of court petition moved by activists Tushar Gandhi and Tehseen Poonawala in wake of the brutal lynching of 28 year old Rakhbar Khan in Alwar. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra has directed the Principal Secretary of the Home Department of the Rajasthan state government to file an affidavit giving details of the action taken in the lynching case.

Brief Background

On July 17 this year, the Supreme Court had delivered a landmark judgment against mob lynching. The strongly worded judgment, not only condemned “horrendous acts of mobocracy” but also directed the centre and the states to take preventive, punitive and remedial measures. However, just days later on July 20, a 28 year old man, Rakhbar Khan, was brutally assaulted by a mob that suspected him of being a cattle smuggler near Lalawandi village in the Ramgarh region of Rajasthan. It is also alleged that not only was there a delay in his hospitalisation, but he may have also been assaulted in police custody before being taken to the hospital, causing his death.

The SC Order passed on August 20, 2018 may be read here:

Advocate Shadab Ansari who had earlier appeared for Jharkhand lynching victim Alimuddin Ansari, welcomed the order saying, “It is necessary that those who violate the order of the SC be held accountable and punished. Such punishment will give a clear cut message that if you disobey you will be punished.”

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