A PIL has been moved in the Delhi High Court challenging city government's decision to declare as a "martyr" a Rajasthan-based farmer who had allegedly hanged himself at an AAP rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The petition, filed by a lawyer, has sought directions restraining Arvind Kejriwal government "from glorifying, justifying, supporting, propagating and consecrating the act of suicide committed by Rajasthan-based politician-cum-farmer named Gajendra Singh Kalyanwat on April 22, 2015 at Jantar Mantar.." The incident had occurred during an anti land bill rally called by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The petition has also sought directions to Delhi Police to "not grant any permission to any person, party or group to stage any kind of 'dharna' or protest at Jantar Mantar" in future. Advocate Avadh Kaushik, in his plea, has opposed city government's decision to not only to declare Gajender as a 'martyr' but also its move to launch a Farmers' Compensation Scheme after his name, apart from promising government job to one of his kin on compassionate ground.
"This act of respondent 1 (Delhi government) was nothing but an effort to glorify, justify, praise, support and consecrate the act of suicide, attempt thereof itself is an offence under section 309 of Indian Penal Code, 1860," the petition has said.
It has also contended that the government's decision was also "a kind of abatement and temptation to others to commit such a criminal and cowardly act which is not only prejudicial to public interest but also a hostile attitude to the sanctity of life and thus, nobody, what to talk about the government, can support and glorify such an act."
The plea has also opposed the Delhi Police's decision to invite and welcome public at large, by way of advertisement, to come to Jantar Mantar and stage protests there, saying the police should instead prohibit and restrain such activity there, which was a historical monument meant and maintained for tourism.
