The Karnataka High Court quashed the criminal case registered against two people for raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans inside the mosque. The court said that this has not hurt the religious sentiments of any section. Let us tell you that this order of the court was passed last month. Uploaded on the website on Tuesday. According to the complaint, two men from Dakshina Kannada district entered a local mosque one night in September last year and raised slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”.
After this, the local police registered a case against him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. A case was registered against both of them under sections 295A (outraging religious beliefs), 447 (criminal trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The accused approached the High Court to quash the charges against them. His lawyer argued that the mosque is a public place and hence no crime is made out in it.
The lawyer also argued that raising slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ does not meet the requirements of the offense defined under Section 295A of the IPC.
‘Bar and Bench’ said in one of its reports, “The court said that it is understandable that if someone raises the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ then it will hurt the religious sentiments of any section. When the complainant himself says that Hindus and Muslims are living in harmony in the area, then there can be no result of this incident in any way.” K
The Karnataka government opposed the petitioners’ plea and sought their custody, saying the matter required further investigation. However, the court held that the crime had no adverse effect on public order. The Court said, “The Supreme Court is of the view that no act will amount to an offense under Section 295A of the IPC unless it has the effect of disturbing the peace or destroying public order. If this does not happen then they will not be considered a crime under section 295A of the IPC.”
