The Supreme Court has intervened in the case of Teesta Setalvad, a prominent social activist accused of fabricating evidence in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. On Saturday, the Supreme Court stayed the Gujarat High Court's order, which had directed Setalvad to surrender immediately. Instead, the court granted her a week's interim relief.
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Understanding Teesta Setalvad's Background
Teesta Setalvad is a well-known activist who has been involved in various social causes. She gained prominence for her work in seeking justice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, which resulted in widespread violence and loss of life. Setalvad has been an advocate for the rights of the affected individuals and has been instrumental in pushing for accountability and legal action against those responsible.
Supreme Court's Decision
A special bench comprising Justice BR Gavai, Justice AS Bopanna, and Justice Dipankar Datta reviewed the case and expressed their concern over the High Court's order. The bench remarked that the single bench of the High Court had erred in not granting Setalvad security even for a week. The Supreme Court clarified that it was not delving into the merits of the case but focused solely on providing interim protection to Setalvad.
Timeline of Events
The special bench of the Supreme Court conducted a night hearing after a two-member bench of the High Court differed on the matter of granting interim protection to Setalvad. Earlier on the same day, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Setalvad's bail plea, ordering her to surrender immediately instead.
Arguments Presented
During the hearing before the Supreme Court's Special Bench, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed granting any relief to Setalvad. However, the bench questioned the urgency of denying Setalvad even seven days of security and expressed confusion over the High Court's rejection of her petition. Setalvad's legal counsel, senior advocate Chander Uday Singh, emphasized that she had previously been granted interim bail on September 2, 2022, and had adhered to all the court's conditions during that period.
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