SC tells UP to return property, refund fines

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday told the Uttar Pradesh government to restore properties of anti-CAA protesters which were attached and also refund the money paid to the authorities for alleged damage to public property. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud was hearing a batch of petitions filed including by Parwaiz Arif Titu against Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh governement pleaded to the Supreme Court to allow it to proceed against 274 protesters under a new law enacted by it in compliance with guidelines framed by the apex court. The state government had issued notices to the anti-CAA protesters to recover the cost of the properties damaged by them after relying on the Allahabad High Court’s 2011 judgment in the Mohammad Shujauddin case. According to the state government, some protesters allegedly vandalised and torched public property in cities, including Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn notices issued to 274 anti-CAA protesters for recovery of damages done to public property allegedly by them and that proceedings against them have been withdrawn.