'Jai Shri Ram' slogan inside mosque: How shouting particular religious phrase an offence? SC asks
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked how raising the slogan of "Jai Shri Ram" a criminal offence.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Sandeep Mehta made the observation while hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court's order quashing the proceedings against two persons for allegedly shouting "Jai Shri Ram" inside a mosque.
"They were shouting a particular religious phrase or a name. How is that an offence?" asked the bench on the plea filed by the complainant Haydhar Ali C M.
The apex court also questioned the complainant how the persons, who allegedly came inside the mosque and shouted the slogan, were identified.
The plea challenged a September 13 high court court, which quashed the criminal proceedings against two persons in the case.
"How do you identify these respondents? You say they are all under the CCTV," the bench asked senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, who was appearing for the petitioner.
"Who identified the persons who came inside?" the bench asked further.
Kamat said the high court quashed the proceedings even though the investigation in the case was incomplete.
The bench said the high court observed the allegations did not touch the ingredients of Section 503 or Section 447 of the IPC.
While Section 503 of the IPC deals with criminal intimidation, Section 447 pertains to punishment for criminal trespass.
Referring to the complaint, Kamat said an FIR was not an encyclopedia of offences.
When the bench asked, "Have you been able to identify the actual persons who entered the mosque?" Kamat said the state police would have to explain it.
The bench asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the plea to the state and posted the matter in January, 2025.
The high court in its order said, "It is ununderstandable as to how if someone shouts 'Jai Sriram' it would outrage the religious feeling of any class."
Observing there was no allegation the incident alleged had caused public mischief or any rift, the HC said,
"The complaint itself narrates that the complainant has not even seen who is the one who is alleged to have committed offence of criminal intimidation attracting ingredients of section 506 of the IPC."
The HC order was passed on a plea filed by two persons, who were alleged to have entered a mosque and shouted religious slogan, seeking quashing of the FIR and proceedings against them in the case.
It was alleged that the incident took on September 24, 2023, and a complaint was filed in the Kadaba Police Station, Puttur circle.
The complainant alleged that some unknown persons had barged into the mosque and shouted "Jai Shri Ram" followed by threats.
"Finding no ingredients of any of the offences so alleged, permitting further proceedings against these petitioners would become an abuse of the process of law and result in miscarriage of justice," held the high court.
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Karnataka Muslim Convention to be held in Bengaluru on May 16
Muslim organisations to release report on Congress govt’s three-year performance
Bengaluru: Major Muslim organisations and federations in Karnataka have decided to organise a large public convention titled ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ at Town Hall in Bengaluru on May 16. During the convention, a comprehensive report reviewing the three-year performance of the Congress government under the theme “What did the Congress government promise? What did it do? What next?” will be released.
According to a statement issued on Friday, no politicians will be invited to the convention. The report will be submitted to the government and all MLAs after the event.
The convention is being held at a time when the Congress government is nearing the completion of three years in office on May 20. Muslim organisations have expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that despite extending strong support to the Congress in bringing it to power, the community is being neglected.
The Convention is being organised at time when there are concerns over inadequate political representation for Muslims, alleged neglect of community demands, and the suspension of senior Muslim leaders who had worked for the party for decades.
The organisers said the convention aims to raise questions on what the Congress government has delivered so far and what further steps are expected from the government.
The decision to hold the convention was taken during a meeting held on May 6 at A J International Hotel in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru. Representatives of major Muslim organisations, associations, ulema bodies, federations, and members of the ad hoc committee of Karnataka Rajya Muslim Okkoota attended the meeting.
More than 75 representatives and delegates, including senior ulemas, jamaat leaders, lawyers, retired officials, journalists and members of the KRMO ad hoc committee, participated in the discussions.
Members of the KRMO ad hoc committee’s report preparation team and experts from different sectors presented a detailed report on the Congress government’s three-year performance. The report examined promises made to Muslims on ten major issues, the extent to which they were fulfilled, pending promises, alleged discrimination in representation, and the demands now being placed before the government.
The report covered issues such as the hijab ban, reservation cancellation, hate speech and hate crimes, budget allocation, political representation, waqf matters, the anti-cow slaughter law, anti-conversion law, scholarships and educational grants.
Participants offered suggestions and recommendations on various points, and necessary corrections to the report were accepted after detailed discussions.
The meeting also reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Congress government has treated the Muslim community. Participants are said to have opined that if the government and the Congress party continue in the same manner, the community should keep its political options open.
It was later decided that the report would be officially released at the large public convention on May 16 under the title “Karnataka Muslim Convention – What did the Congress government promise? What did it do? What next?”
The organisers appealed to people from all districts of the state to participate in large numbers and send a strong message to the government and the Congress party through the convention.
They also decided that all organisations, jamaats and associations should work towards ensuring participation from every district in Karnataka.
The statement reiterated that no politicians would be invited to the May 16 convention and that the report on the Congress government’s three-year performance would be submitted to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs after the event.
