TCN News
In a ruling that raised many eyebrows, the Karnataka High Court stated that shouting “Jai Shri Ram” (a Hindu religious chant) inside a mosque does not amount to an outrage of religious feelings, the Bar and Bench reported. The court quashed criminal proceedings against two individuals, Keerthan Kumar and Sachin Kumar, who had been charged with insulting religious beliefs.
The case stemmed from an incident in September last year when the two men entered a mosque in Dakshin Kannada district and shouted the slogan. Following a complaint, local police charged them under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 295A, which addresses acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, in his ruling, noted that the complainant had acknowledged that Hindus and Muslims in the area were living in harmony. He remarked, “It is unclear how shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ could outrage anyone’s religious sentiments. The incident does not suggest any conflict or animosity.”
The petitioners’ counsel argued that a mosque is a “public place”, negating any claims of criminal trespass. He emphasised that the act did not constitute an offense under Section 295A. The prosecution (the state government) opposed the petition, claiming that further investigation was necessary.
However, the court held that the actions in question did not disrupt public order. It emphasised that not every act constitutes an offense under Section 295A, stating, “Acts that do not threaten peace or public order cannot be deemed criminal.”
The court concluded that allowing the case to proceed would be an abuse of the legal process and could lead to a miscarriage of justice.