After SC nudge, Modi government sets up panel to suggest laws against mob lynching

After being prodded by the Supreme Court, Narendra Modi government has set up a four-member committee, headed by Union Home Secretary, to look into new laws to curb the growing incidents of mob lynching in the country, Home Ministry said in a press release on Monday.

The move by the Modi government came after widespread criticism and Opposition bashing in Parliament for not being able to control the growing incidents of mob lynching across the country.

In the latest incident, a man was lynched by a mob over suspicion of cow smuggling in Rajasthan’s Alwar. After the incident, the Opposition Congress slammed the Centre for its lacklustre approach to stop the prevailing “mobocracy” in the country.

“Government is concerned at the incidents of violence by mobs in some parts of the country. The government has already condemned such incidents and has made its stand clear in Parliament that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and adopting effective measures to curb such incidents,” the ministry said.

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The move also came days after the Supreme Court, hearing a plea filed by social activist Tehseen Poonawalla, urged Parliament to look into the possibilities of a new law to deter such crimes.

“The horrendous acts of mobocracy cannot be allowed to become the new normal. No citizen can take law into their own hands. In case of fear and anarchy, the state has to act positively,” the apex court had said.

A ministerial panel, headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has also been constituted. The panel will submit its report to the prime minister based on the recommendations of the four-member committee.