Supreme Court Dismisses Contempt Petition Against UP Officials for Permitting 'Dharam Sansad'
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New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a contempt petition aimed at the Uttar Pradesh authorities for permitting the 'Dharam Sansad', which is taking place in Ghaziabad from December 17-21, organized by the controversial Hindu leader Yati Narasinghanand, known for his alleged communal statements targeting Muslims.
"We are not entertaining any contempt petition; you should approach the appropriate authorities," remarked a bench led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna to advocate Prashant Bhushan, who represented activist Aruna Roy and others.
The bench indicated that accepting the current petition would lead to a deluge of similar requests, advising Bhushan to take his concerns to the relevant high court.
Nevertheless, the bench, which included Justice Sanjay Kumar, urged Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, to monitor the event closely and ensure that no inflammatory speeches are made.
"Mr. Nataraj, please instruct the authorities to keep a record and ensure video documentation is maintained. The dismissal of this petition does not imply there won’t be a breach of the law established by this court," the bench stated.
The Supreme Court reiterated its previous directive to uphold public safety and instructed all officials to ensure adherence to the law.
The petitioner highlighted that the Ghaziabad administration and Uttar Pradesh officials did not act in compliance with the Supreme Court's orders to proactively address hate speech incidents.
Last April, the apex court emphasized that the Constitution envisions India as a secular nation, directing all states and Union Territories to impose strict measures against hate speech cases and initiate criminal proceedings without waiting for a complaint, regardless of the religious affiliations of the offenders.
Numerous petitions were submitted to the Supreme Court following hate speeches made during incidents from December 17-19, 2021, in two events held in Haridwar and Delhi, organized by Yati Narasinghanand and a group called 'Hindu Yuva Vahini', seemingly aiming to incite conflict against a significant portion of the Indian populace.
