The Bombay High Court recently dismissed a plea seeking legal action against former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for comments he made regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, his wife Savitribai, and “Marathi manoos.”
A division bench comprised of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Abhay Waghwase was hearing a plea filed by Rana Katarnaware, a member of the scheduled caste community, who claimed that Koshyari words were disrespectful to historical individuals who were held in high regard in society.
However, the bench opined that the statements were in the nature of ‘historical analysis,’ with the goal of ‘enlightening society’ about history.
“The referred statements would tell us that they are in the nature of analysis of history and the lessons to be learnt from the history. These statements primarily reflect the perception and opinion of speaker about those figures with an intention to persuade the audience, to whom they have been expressed, to think over and act in a way which is good for Society. The intention behind the statements appears to be of enlightenment of the Society for its betterment, as perceived by the speaker,” the order reads.
As a result, it found that the statements did not constitute an offense punishable under any criminal law.
“These statements cannot, therefore, be seen as disrespectful to any great person, held in high esteem by members of the Society in general and by members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in particular,” the bench held.
Therefore, the petition was dismissed.
