SC stays Hindu-Muslim SIT order in Akola riots case

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of India, stayed a directive to the Maharashtra government to constitute a Special Investigation Team comprising senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities to probe the 2023 Akola riots. The stay comes as the court considers a review petition filed by the state, which had sought to challenge the portion of the September judgment that mandated the mixed-communit y SIT. In the September verdict, a Division Bench had warned against communal colors seeping into the khakhi of the police, and had directed a transparent probe with officers from both communities. The Maharashtra government indicated agreement with all other aspects of that judgment, but argued that the SIT composition would impinge on institutional secularism and could prejudge communal bias within public servants. A larger bench later issued notices on the review petition and stayed the challenged portion of the order, pending further arguments. The state contends that appointing a mixed SIT would divide the police along religious lines and could affect the neutrality of the investigation into the case of a 17-year-old Muslim boy who had alleged serious misconduct in Akola. The court’s interim order signals that the matter will be examined for the limited aspect of the SIT composition in the context of secularism and fairness. While the review petition is heard, the court has kept the rest of the September judgment intact, leaving room for a potential re-evaluation of the SIT’s structure later. This development keeps the Akola case in a flux, as courts weigh the balance between prompt, transparent investigations and the constitutional principle of secularism guiding state institutions.

Cover image source: Akola riots case: CJI-led Bench stays Supreme Court order to form SIT with equal Hindu, Muslim officers 🔗

#AkolaRiots #SCStay #SITDebate