SC seeks Gujarat’s response on Hardik’s plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Gujarat government on a fresh plea of firebrand Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, challenging the High Court’s decision declining to quash the sedition charge invoked against him and others in a case lodged for allegedly attacking places like police stations in the state.

A Bench, comprising Justices JS Khehar and RF Nariman, issued notice to the state government and fixed the appeal for hearing on January 5 along with his similar plea pending against another High Court order.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Hardik, said the charges have wrongly been invoked against him as there was no conspiracy to wage war against the government and at best, it is the case of use of “intemperate language” which can be tried under some other penal provisions.

“There was nothing to show that I was challenging the state. The whole movement was for seeking reservation for Patidar community,” he said, adding that “the language may be intemperate and he may be liable to some other offence but not for conspiring to wage war against the government”.

“Words are not enough, there has to be actions beyond words,” he said.