Aakhir Tak – In Shorts
- Karnataka High Court dismissed claims that shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ inside a mosque hurts religious sentiments.
- The court ruled the act did not disrupt public order or offend any religious group.
- Criminal proceedings against the accused were quashed by the court.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth
The Karnataka High Court quashed the criminal proceedings against two men accused of raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans inside a mosque, stating that the act did not hurt religious sentiments or disturb public order.
The incident occurred last year in Dakshina Kannada district, where the two individuals entered a mosque at night and raised slogans. They were charged under sections 295A (hurting religious sentiments), 447 (criminal trespass), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The accused moved the High Court, arguing that a mosque is a public place, and the act did not constitute criminal trespass. They further claimed that raising the slogan did not qualify as an offense under Section 295A of the IPC.
The court, noting that Hindus and Muslims lived harmoniously in the area, dismissed the charges, emphasizing that the slogans did not violate public peace or order. The Karnataka government opposed this and sought further investigation, but the court maintained that there was no basis for the charges under Section 295A. Consequently, the case was dismissed to prevent a miscarriage of justice.
