SUPREME COURT FOR RELIEF OF VICTIMS OF SALWA JUDUM, SECURITY FORCES OR NAXALITES
(Source: SACW January 18, 20111; abridged)
Justices Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar responded to the petition by Senior Counsel, Mr. Ashok Desai, and ordered the Chhattisgarh government to vacate security forces from all educational institutions, disband Salwa Judum camps and offer relief to all victims of the violence regardless of perpetrator.
It should be noted that Mr. Desai who is over 75 years old is arguing the case pro-bono, and is doing a brilliant job of it. He was on his feet all day today, giving up all his other matters for this. He is assisted by a team of lawyers who are also working pro bono, Nitya Ramakrishnan, Menaka Guruswamy, Suhasini Sen, Bipin Aspatwar, Rahul Kripalani, Sumita Hazarika and Pragya Singh (Advocates on record). Senior counsel Mr. TR Andhyarujina has also argued this matter pro bono on several occasions. Were it not for the commitment of these lawyers to the constitution and the rule of law, as well as their concern for the fate of the country’s poorest citizens, we would not have come this far.