The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to explain the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters on the Ramlila Ground on intervening night of June4-5. Taking suo moto cognizance of the police action at the Ramlila Ground the court issued notice to Union Home secretary GK Pillai, Delhi Police commissioner BK Gupta, Delhi Chief Secretary PK Tripathi and Delhi administration.

The notice was issued by a vacation bench asking them to respond within two weeks. The court asked them to reply as to what were the circumstances under which the people had to be dispersed at midnight by using the force. The court posted the matter for hearing the matter in the 2^nd week of July. However the court declined to hear a petition filed by advocate Ajay Agarwal on the same issue. The Bench also disclosed its displeasure of the matters of the petition being disclosed by the media before the petition came for hearing.

Report by Alka