Indians united against terrorism, don’t demoralise forces: SC rebukes Pahalgam petitioner

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 1, 2025: Pahalgam Attack: The Supreme Court on Thursday rebuked the petitioners for filing a PIL over Pahalgam terror attack and said that the “sensitivity" of the issue should have been looked into before filing such a plea.

While refusing to entertain the PIL seeking judicial probe into Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including foreign tourists were killed, a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh berated the petitioners for filing an “irresponsible petition" despite the sensitivity of the situation, and underlined the “demoralising" impact it could have on the security forces.

“Be responsible before filing such PILs. You have some duty towards country also. Is this the way you want to demoralise forces? Since when have we acquired expertise of investigation? You are asking retired SC judge to investigate. They can only adjudicate. Don’t ask us to pass an order", Justice Surya Kant said.

“This is not the time. This is the crucial hour when each citizen has joined hands against terrorism…don’t make any prayer which can demoralize forces…this is not acceptable to us. Look at sensitivity of the issue", the bench further stated.

The bench further said that judges are not experts in probe of terror cases and instructed the petitioners to not to bring such issues in judicial domain.

The PIL was filed by Kashmiri local Junaid Mohd Junaid and two advocates-Fatesh Kumar Sahu and Vicky Kumar, urging the formation of a judicial commission headed by a retired judge of the top court to investigate the terror attack.

It also sought a minimum security standards for tourist sites in areas prone to conflicts, such as Jammu and Kashmir, reported LiveLaw.

The petitioners also sought a direction to the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to prepare an action plan for ensuring the safety of citizens in tourists areas in the Union Territory.

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Terrorists targeted a group of people, including women and elderly individuals, in the brazen attack afternoon.

After the attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines and expulsion of its military attaches. In response, Pakistan undertook tit-for-tat measures and suspended the Shimla Agreement.