While hearing the case of the brutal lynching of a 49-year-old migrant-Bengal labourer in Rajasthan, the Supreme Court termed the incident “horrendous”. Afrazul Khan was first hacked and then burnt alive in Rajsamand, Rajasthan on 6 December, and a video of the horrific crime was then circulated on social media.
According to a report by The Economic Times, the three-judge bench hearing the case, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, expressed their concern over the widespread circulation of the video.
According to reports, the CJI acknowledged that currently, there are no laws against hate crimes and asked advocate Indira Jaising, who is representing Khan’s wife- Gulbahar Bibi, to file a better petition in the case.
Jaising reportedly told the court that even during trial in such hate crimes, it was not proper for those espousing these crimes to often storm the court complex to intimidate all concerned and to show their support for the accused. "They even hoisted an orange flag on a court building," she said according to the report by The Economic Times. "Such trials have to be held in an atmosphere of calm. That is part of access to justice” added the report. Jaising then asked for the video to be withdrawn from social media.
Khan’s wife, Gulbahar Bibi had moved court seeking an SIT inquiry into the lynching. The accused in the case – Shambhulal Regar – is presently in judicial custody.
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