The Supreme Court on Friday requested Delhi High Court to dispose of expeditiously, preferably within three months, a plea seeking registration of FIRs against some politicians for alleged hate speeches that purportedly triggered the Delhi riots last year in which 53 people died.

The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices L.N. Rao and B.R. Gavai. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for three petitioners who are victims of the violence, told the bench that despite the apex court’s order of March last year asking the high court to dispose of the petition as quickly as possible, no progress had been made.

Gonsalves told the bench, referring to the tardy progress: “We are losing faith. How can anyone have faith in this system?”

The bench replied: “We are not inclined to entertain this writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. The writ petition is dismissed,” the bench said.

“Colin Gonsalves, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that no progress has been made in the writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India before the high court, though this court directed the high court to decide the writ petition expeditiously two years back,” the Supreme Court said in its order.

It requested the high court to dispose of the petition expeditiously, preferably within three months.

On March 4 last year, the apex court had asked the high court to hear on March 6, 2020, a plea seeking lodging of FIRs against some BJP leaders for alleged hate speeches which purportedly led to the riots in Delhi.

It had said the high court may explore the possibility of “peaceful resolution” of the dispute.

The top court had passed the order while hearing a plea filed by 10 riot victims seeking registration of FIRs against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Verma, Abhay Verma and others for their alleged hate speeches.

On Friday, the Supreme Court was hearing a plea, filed through advocate Satya Mitra, seeking action against political leaders whose hate speeches allegedly resulted in the riots in Delhi.

The plea filed in the apex court also sought an independent investigation into the role of Delhi police in the violence.

The plea said the petitioners had earlier approached the apex court, which had on March 4 last year transferred the matter to Delhi High Court and asked it to hear and dispose of the matter within a reasonable time.

It also sought a direction for inquiry by a retired judge into the communal attacks that took place and to identify the police personnel allegedly involved in the rioting and criminal conduct and thereafter, direct that those officers be dismissed from service in accordance with the law.