IANS
New Delhi, May 1: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the formation of a probe panel led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N.K. Singh strongly criticized the petitioner for filing the plea, asserting that judges are not trained investigators and emphasizing the need for responsibility in filing such petitions.
“Since when have retired High Court or Supreme Court judges become experts in criminal investigation? We are here to adjudicate disputes, not to lead probes. Please refrain from making such requests,” the bench observed.
The court further stressed the sensitivity of the matter, stating, “This is a critical time when the entire nation is united against terrorism. Do not seek reliefs that could demoralize our security forces. Such requests are simply unacceptable.”
As the bench signaled its unwillingness to consider the PIL, the petitioner shifted focus mid-hearing, raising concerns about the safety of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying outside the union territory. The court, however, declined to make any observations on the matter, pointing out the inconsistency in the petitioner’s submissions.
“You made certain prayers, and now you are withdrawing them? You expect us to read through all these files overnight only to change your stand the next day?” the bench remarked sharply.
The court ultimately allowed the petitioner to withdraw the PIL but granted liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court on the issue concerning the welfare of J&K students.
The original plea had sought directives to the Centre, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, the CRPF, the NIA, and other agencies to formulate a comprehensive safety plan for tourist areas in the Valley. It also requested the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Pahalgam attack and fix accountability.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officially took over the case on Thursday, following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division. NIA Director General also visited Pahalgam to assess the situation on the ground.
