Justice Rajinder Sachar, former Delhi high court judge and member of the People's Union of Civil Liberties, has appealed to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh not to file review petition in the Supreme Court against its order last week declaring the arming of tribal people for anti-Maoist operations as illegal.
The Apex court had in its order slammed the Chhattisgarh government for using tribals as Special Police Officers in its Salwa Judum counter-insurgency operation against the Maoists. It also asked the central government to ensure that its finances are not used for funding SPOs.
Read the Supreme Court verdict on Salwa Judum here
Addressing a press conference with activist Swami Agnivesh and other PUCL leaders in New Delhi on Monday, Justice Sachar said: "The PUCL calls upon all democratic forces in the country to support its stand and condemn this undemocratic position of the Central government."
"Already the Chhattisgarh chief minister has announced its decision to move the court against the court's order. PUCL urges the Central and the state government to show due respect to court verdicts in the interest of the people and the nation."
Agnivesh said that instead of seeking a review, the Chattisgarh chief minister should have welcomed the court verdict.
"We strongly welcome the Supreme Court order by Justice Sudershan Reddy and Justice S S Nijjar delcaring the use of arming of SPO's as well as support for Salwa Judum unconstitutional and directing the state government to disarms SPOs, stop using them in counter insurgency operations, as well as file FIRs aand prosecute them vigorously," Agnivesh said.
He added that Salwa Judum was a violent, illegal and unconstitutional movement.
"It has razed 644 villages, killing hundreds of people. He charged that the SPOs who have been involved in criminal and henious acts are roaming free and not one of them has been prosecuted so far. He said that the state government had no power to grant amnesty to SPOs involved in criminal activities and that they must be punished and prosecuted under proper legal procedure."
