The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail to a man accused of shouting a pro-Pakistan slogan and directed him to salute the national flag at a Bhopal police station 21 times and raise ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan twice a month till the end of the trial. Justice DK Paliwal, in the order on Tuesday, said the applicant may be released on bail by imposing some conditions which may enthuse in him a sense of responsibility and pride for the country in which he was born and living. “He is openly shouting slogans against the country in which he was born and brought up,” the HC stated.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail to a man accused of shouting the slogans “Pakistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad.” The Court, while allowing his release on bail, imposed a unique condition requiring the man to salute the Indian flag 21 times twice a month, each time while raising the slogan, “Bharat Mata ki Jai.“
Justice Dinesh Kumar Paliwal issued the order with the intent to instill in the accused a sense of national pride and responsibility. The Court observed that imposing such conditions would encourage the man to develop a deeper respect for the country in which he was born and continues to live.
The accused had been charged under Section 153B of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to promoting enmity or prejudice against national unity. Despite being booked for shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, the High Court granted him bail on October 15. The ruling was made on the condition that he would consistently participate in patriotic acts that would help him realize the importance of national loyalty.
The court’s order explicitly stated,
“It is further directed that he shall continuously mark his presence before Police Station Misrod, Bhopal between 10 A.M. to 12 ‘O’Clock of the day on every 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month till the final conclusion of trial and shall salute the National Flag unfurled on the building of police station 21 (twenty-one) times raising the slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. Aforesaid condition has to be necessarily incorporated in bail papers.”
In its justification for the decision, the court remarked,
“Applicant may be released on bail by imposing conditions which may enthuse in him a sense of responsibility and pride for the country.”
This highlights the court’s effort to blend justice with patriotism, as it hopes such actions would motivate the accused to better appreciate his homeland.
The counsel representing the accused maintained that the man had been falsely implicated and had not committed any real offense. However, the defense admitted that a video showed the man shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, which led to his arrest.
On the other hand, the State vehemently opposed the bail application, noting that the accused had a history of criminal activity with 13 previous cases filed against him. The State further emphasized that the video clearly depicted the accused openly shouting slogans against India, the country of his birth.
The prosecution added,
“If the accused is not happy and satisfied in India, he may opt to live in the country of his choice for which he raised the slogan of ‘zindabad’ (long live).”
This remark indicates the state’s strong disapproval of the man’s actions and their belief that such behavior is unacceptable for someone living in India.
Despite the opposition, the Court granted bail upon the accused furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000, along with the condition that he must salute the Indian flag and shout the patriotic slogan “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” twice a month. This condition, according to the Court, will be in effect until the trial is concluded.
Furthermore, the Court clarified that the bail order would remain effective only until the trial ends. It emphasized that if the accused violates any bail conditions or attempts to escape his legal obligations, the bail will be revoked immediately.
Advocate Hakim Khan represented the accused in the bail proceedings, while Advocate CK Mishra appeared on behalf of the State.
This ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court sets a unique precedent by combining legal enforcement with a strong emphasis on instilling a sense of national pride.
CASE TITLE:
Faizal @ Faizan v. State of Madhya Pradesh.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Bharat Mata
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
