Today, On 16th December, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has encouraged petitioners who are against the upcoming ‘Dharam Sansad’ in Ghaziabad to submit an email requesting an expedited hearing. The petition, presented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, claims that the event includes “a call for the genocide of Muslims” and seeks urgent intervention. Organized by Yati Narsinghanand, the ‘Dharam Sansad’ is set to take place from Tuesday to Saturday at the Shiv-Shakti temple complex. The petition raises serious concerns regarding the potential for hate speech and communal tensions.
New Delhi: A plea seeking to restrain the organization of a ‘Dharam Sansad’ in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, mentioned for urgent hearing before the Supreme Court on Monday.
A coalition of civil society members, including former bureaucrats, approached the Supreme Court, claiming that the Uttar Pradesh Police failed to take action against the Dharam Sansad scheduled to be held by Yati Narasinghanand and others in Ghaziabad this week.
The petitioner alleged that the event included “a call for the genocide of Muslims.”
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Sanjay Kumar, instructed lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, to file an email for an urgent listing of the plea.
The Chief Justice remarked,
“I will consider. Please send an email,”
Bhushan emphasized the urgency, stating,
“An open call for the genocide of Muslims has been made,”
And urged immediate intervention as the ‘Dharam Sansad’ is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
The event is planned to take place from Tuesday to Saturday at the Shiv-Shakti temple complex in Ghaziabad’s Dasna. A prior ‘Dharam Sansad‘ in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, sparked controversy over alleged hate speeches, leading to criminal prosecutions against individuals, including Yati Narasinhanand.
Narasinghanand is accused of repeatedly delivering hate speeches targeting Muslims.
According to the petition,
“The website and advertisements for this Sansad contain numerous communal statements against followers of Islam, inciting violence against Muslims.”
The petitioners include retired bureaucrats and activists such as Aruna Roy, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Deb Mukarji, Navrekha Sharma, Syeda Hameed, and Vijayan MJ.
This petition comes in the wake of controversy surrounding a similar ‘Dharam Sansad’ held in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, which faced significant backlash over alleged hate speeches. Criminal proceedings were initiated against several individuals, including Yati Narsinghanand, for inflammatory statements made during that event.
The current plea aims to prevent a repeat of such incidents, highlighting the potential risk of communal unrest and violations of constitutional principles.
The Supreme Court currently reviewing a series of petitions calling for action against hate speech in India.
Case Title
Aruna Roy & Ors v Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra & Ors.| Diary no. 58833/2024