'Chanting Jai Shri Ram inside mosque doesn't hurt sentiments': HC
The Karnataka High Court has quashed a criminal case against two men accused of chanting "Jai Shri Ram" inside a mosque. The single-judge bench, headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna, quashed the charges, saying it was "incomprehensible how shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' would outrage the religious feelings of any class." The accused were initially booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 295A for allegedly outraging religious feelings.
Incident details and initial charges
The incident occurred on September 24, 2023, when the accused allegedly entered a mosque around 10:50pm and started chanting slogans. They were initially treated as unknown persons by the police but were arrested later. The complainant in the case admitted that Hindus and Muslims in the area lived in harmony. Justice Nagaprasanna observed that allowing further proceedings would be an abuse of legal process.
Court's reference to Supreme Court ruling
The court cited a Supreme Court ruling, stressing that not every act comes under Section 295A of the IPC. "Acts that have no effect on disturbing peace or public order will not lead to an offense under Section 295A of the IPC," the judge said. The bench found no grounds for criminal trespass or public mischief, noting that there were no allegations causing public disorder.
