The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal case lodged against two individuals who were accused of raising “Jai Shri Ram” slogans inside a mosque. The case, which had drawn attention due to its sensitive nature, was quashed by the single-judge bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna. The court ruled that chanting the slogan did not harm the religious sentiments of any community and did not justify legal action under the charges filed.
The accused were initially charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 295A, which deals with deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. They were also booked under IPC Sections 447 (criminal trespass), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention). The incident took place on September 24, 2023, when the accused allegedly entered the mosque around 10:50 p.m. and chanted “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
The police registered a case against the accused, who were initially unidentified but later taken into custody. The accused then challenged the allegations by filing an appeal before the Karnataka High Court, leading to the quashing of the case.
In its ruling, the court emphasized that the mere act of raising slogans did not automatically qualify as an offense under Section 295A of the IPC, which deals with deliberate and malicious acts meant to outrage religious feelings. The court referred to a Supreme Court order that clarified such cases, indicating that not every act would constitute an offense under this section.
The court further noted that the complainant had stated that Hindus and Muslims lived in harmony in the area where the incident took place. This observation was crucial in the court’s decision, as it indicated that there was no significant disruption to communal relations as a result of the incident. The bench underlined that allowing further legal proceedings would be an “abuse of process of law.”
Justice M. Nagaprasanna’s bench also pointed out that continuing the case would likely create unnecessary tension in an otherwise peaceful community. The court ruled that chanting “Jai Shri Ram” in the mosque did not escalate communal tensions or harm religious sentiments, leading to the decision to quash the case.
This ruling comes amid ongoing debates around religious sentiments and communal harmony in India, highlighting the fine line between free expression and the need to maintain peace and respect between communities.
