Is it a crime to chant Jai Shri Ram inside a mosque? The Supreme Court will hear in January 2025. The Supreme Court has refused to issue a notice on the petition filed against the decision of the Karnataka High Court not considering it a crime. The court has asked the petitioner to give a copy of the application to the state government.
In this case, it was alleged that two people entered the Badariya Jumma Masjid in Aithur village of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka last year and raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram there. Also threatened that people of the Muslim community will not be allowed to live in peace. After a complaint was lodged against both the people, the police registered a case against them under several sections including Section 295A (hurting religious sentiments), 447 (trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation was still on when the accused approached the High Court for relief. On September 13, the Karnataka High Court did not consider it a crime and quashed the case registered against the two people for hurting religious sentiments.
The High Court had said in its order that it is beyond comprehension that if someone chants ‘Jai Shri Ram’, how will it hurt the religious sentiments of any community. When the complainant himself says that Hindus and Muslims are living in harmony in the area, it is unlikely that the atmosphere will deteriorate due to this incident.
Comments