Lucknow:
A court in Uttar Pradesh has said the state's Akhilesh Yadav government cannot withdraw terror cases without the Centre's consent.
The lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court said on Thursday that most of the accused were booked under central Acts, so the state government cannot withdraw the cases without informing the Centre.
The ruling is being seen as a political setback for the ruling Samajwadi Party ahead of the general election due by May, as the withdrawal of terror cases against those they described as innocent Muslims, was one of their biggest political commitments.
"Our law department will look into it. We respect the court's judgment," said Azam Khan, a senior state minister.
While campaigning for the state assembly elections last year, the party had promised to review terror charges against Muslim youth who they said had been framed in terror cases during the previous Mayawati government's rule.
This was seen as an attempt at finding favour with Muslims, who are seen to be the Samajwadi party's most loyal and crucial vote-bank. The party rode to power on the back of a massive consolidation of the Muslim voter, who are one-fifth of the electorate in India's most populous state.
After taking charge, the state government moved for withdrawing cases against 19 men accused in terror strikes like the March 2006 Varanasi serial blasts, which claimed 25 lives, and the serial court blasts of 2007. Among them is a woman who had been charged with giving shelter to a Pakistani spy.
The Allahabad High Court had in November last year, admonished the UP government and asked if its policy would not encourage terrorism.
Today's ruling comes at a time the Samajwadi party is desperately trying to hold on to its Muslim voters after the Muzaffarnagar communal violence in September.