Today( 23rd February) The Supreme Court has given the Uttar Pradesh Government a 10-day extension to respond to Swami Prasad Maurya’s case. Maurya, a former Samajwadi Party leader, challenged an Allahabad High Court decision rejecting his petition to halt proceedings regarding alleged remarks on ‘Ramcharitmanas’.
NEW DELHI: Today, on February 23rd, the Supreme Court has provided the Uttar Pradesh Government with a 10-day period to file its response concerning the plea brought by the former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya.
The petition challenges a previous order from the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed Maurya’s petition aimed at quashing proceedings related to objectionable remarks he made about ‘Ramcharitmanas’, a revered text in the Awadhi language based on the epic Ramayana.
Maurya, who has been at the center of controversy for purportedly making “objectionable” comments about ‘Ramcharitmanas’, recently launched his own political outfit, the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaaj Party (RSSP), after parting ways with the Samajwadi Party.
A bench comprising Justices B. R. Gavai, J. B. Pardiwala, and Sandeep Mehta presided over the hearing, adjourning it upon the state’s counsel’s request for additional time for the reply. The bench, in a light-hearted remark, speculated on potential shifts in alliances, hinting at Maurya’s departure from the Samajwadi Party, the ruling BJP’s political rival in the state.
Previously, the Apex Court had intervened on January 25 by staying the criminal proceedings against Maurya and issuing a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government.
“Probably a change in alliances, as far as we remember. Perhaps the prosecution might have to rethink things. Let’s see what comes around on the next date. We may not be called upon to decide the issue, and the matter may be rendered infructuous,”
the bench remarked in referring to Maurya
Background
The case was initiated after an FIR was lodged in Pratapgarh District against Maurya and others based on a complaint by a resident, Santosh Kumar Mishra. Subsequently, the police filed a charge sheet against Maurya and his associates, leading to summonses issued by a lower court.
Throughout the proceedings, Maurya has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting the absence of substantial evidence to substantiate allegations of vilifying the Hindu religious text.
