Selective leak by police of Shri Jayendra Saraswati's interrogation; NHRC issues notice to TN Government NHRC issues notice to TN Government
New Delhi, 13 January 2005
From various reports appearing in the media, both print and electronic, it has come to the notice of the Commission that within hours of the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India directing release on bail of Shri Jayendra Saraswati, on the condition that he shall not enter the Mutt till the police files the charge-sheet in the Shankaraman case, the junior Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Mutt, Shri Vijayendra Saraswati, who was offering puja was told that he was being taken into custody by the police force which entered the Mutt, a place of worship, without any permission. It is also reported in the media that devotees of the Kanchi Mutt feel that the absence of both Shri Jayendra Saraswati and Shri Vijayendra Saraswati would affect the 'centuries old tradition' of offering daily pujas and hurt their sentiments.
The telecast of video excerpts of the alleged interrogation of Shri Jayendra Saraswati 'selectively leaked' by the police through some TV channels also raises an issue about the rights of a person facing investigation to a fair trial - a constitutional imperative.
The Commission calls upon the Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu to furnish a factual report on the media reports referred to above and the "selective leakage" of excerpts of police interrogation as telecast by some TV channels.
Response in two weeks.
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From various reports appearing in the media, both print and electronic, it has come to the notice of the Commission that within hours of the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India directing release on bail of Shri Jayendra Saraswati, on the condition that he shall not enter the Mutt till the police files the charge-sheet in the Shankaraman case, the junior Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Mutt, Shri Vijayendra Saraswati, who was offering puja was told that he was being taken into custody by the police force which entered the Mutt, a place of worship, without any permission. It is also reported in the media that devotees of the Kanchi Mutt feel that the absence of both Shri Jayendra Saraswati and Shri Vijayendra Saraswati would affect the 'centuries old tradition' of offering daily pujas and hurt their sentiments.
The telecast of video excerpts of the alleged interrogation of Shri Jayendra Saraswati 'selectively leaked' by the police through some TV channels also raises an issue about the rights of a person facing investigation to a fair trial - a constitutional imperative.
The Commission calls upon the Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu to furnish a factual report on the media reports referred to above and the "selective leakage" of excerpts of police interrogation as telecast by some TV channels.
Response in two weeks.
*********