Varanasi blast: HC slams UP govt for withdrawing cases

Varanasi blast: HC slams UP govt for withdrawing cases TIMES NEWS NETWORK  Lucknow: The Allahabad high court lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh government for withdrawing terror charges against those accused of the 2006 Varanasi serial blasts.     Expressing displeasure at the move, the court on Thursday asked how does the government decide whether an individual can be accused of terrorism or not. The court said, “Who will decide if a person is a terrorist or not? Since the cases in question are pending before the court, it should be left for the courts to decide.”     The court also observed, “Today the government wants to withdraw cases against terror accused. Tomorrow they will be decorated with Padma bhushan.” The bench of Justice RK Agarwal and Justice RSR Maurya wondered if the government’s move will end up encouraging terror activities.     The judges made these observations while hearing a public interest litigation by social activists Nityanand Chaubey and Rakesh Nayayik of Varanasi questioning the government’s move to withdraw the cases.