Hours after imposing an exemplary cost of Rs five lakh on Maharashtra government for delay in filing its affidavit on police reforms, the Supreme Court today withdrew its order saying it has done better than other states.
The apex court, which had first taken up the case of Maharashtra, changed its order after perusing the affidavits of five other states -- Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Goa.
At the beginning of the hearing, the apex court bench had announced the imposition of the cost on Maharashtra government.
However, at the fag end of the hearing, a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi said Maharashtra "has done better" than other states and saddling it with "heavy" cost is not necessary.
Though the affidavit was filed today after the deadline of May 3, the bench, also comprising Ranjana Prakash Desai and Sharad Arvind Bobde, noted that the State Security Commission (SSC) was in place in the state since 2010 and it had already held six meetings.
Advocate Sanjay Kharde, who filed the affidavit on behalf of Maharashtra government, submitted the SSC was constituted in 2008 having a mixed model but later Sorabjee model was adopted in 2010.
The state government also said the term of the SSC had expired in 2012 and on May 2, 2013, it has been replaced by three members.
Earlier in the day, the apex court said some of the state governments are taking its directions "very lightly" and it has become a habit for them to file affidavits late.
It said there was a direction for Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa to file affidavits by May 3 in this matter.
The court made it clear that it was not for state governments to extend the time of filing affidavits suo motu.
