SC Refuses Contempt Plea, Asks UP To Monitor ‘Dharam Sansad’

The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed to hear a contempt petition against Uttar Pradesh authorities over Yati Narsinghanand’s proposed “Dharam Sansad” event in Ghaziabad and advised them to monitor the situation closely.

“Please tell the authorities to keep a watch and track what is happening,” the bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, told Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, representing the state.

The ‘Dharam Sansad,’ organized by the Yati Narsinghanand Foundation, was planned between December 17 and December 21 at the Shiv-Shakti temple complex in Ghaziabad’s Dasna. The court directed the nodal officers to ensure no violation of its previous orders and maintain vigilance on the event.

In April 2023, the Supreme Court had instructed all states and union territories to file cases against individuals making hate speeches, even without a formal complaint. It also reaffirmed its October 2022 directive, which called for action against hate speech regardless of religion, and warned that any delays would be treated as contempt. The court had specifically directed states like Uttar Pradesh to act against those making hate speeches.

On Thursday, the bench clarified that while it was not entertaining the contempt plea, it did not imply that there would be any violation of its earlier orders. “We have to accept that all matters can’t come to the Supreme Court. If we entertain one, we will have to entertain all,” the bench explained, emphasizing that there are other equally serious matters pending.

The petitioners, including activist Aruna Roy, retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Sharma, former IFS officers Deb Mukarji and Navrekha Sharma, had moved the court seeking urgent action against the Ghaziabad district administration and the UP police for their alleged failure to enforce the top court’s order on hate speech.

The petitioners claimed that an open call for genocide against Muslims had been made during the event, urging urgent action as the event was scheduled to begin on December 17. In a related case, a previous “Dharam Sansad” in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, sparked controversy over hate speeches, leading to criminal prosecution against several individuals, including Narsinghanand.

On December 16, the Supreme Court had asked the petitioners, including social activists and former bureaucrats, to send an email requesting the urgent listing of the case.

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