Sedition Case: K’taka HC Quashes Proceedings Against Bidar School Management Accused Of Staging Anti-CAA Play

The Karnataka High Court recently quashed a sedition case filed against Shaheen School management in Bidar for staging a play that criticized the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The FIR was filed in 2020 upon the presentation of the play by students hailing from classes 4, 5, and 6, which discussed the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A single judge Justice Hemant Chandangoudar of the Kalaburagi Bench allowed the pleas by the four accused, part of the management, and quashed the proceedings initiated against them under Sections 504 (insult), 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the complaint filed against the school’s management, underage students were directed to use language that would promote anti-patriotic emotions and encouraged to make derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Additionally, it was alleged that the children were taught to say that if the CAA, NRC, and NPR were implemented by the parliament, then Muslims would have to leave the country.