Fri Dec 20 17:12:52 UTC 2024: ## Delhi High Court Upholds FIR Against DU Professor for Gyanvapi Mosque Post
**New Delhi:** The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a Delhi University professor, Dr. Ratan Lal, seeking to quash an FIR against him for an allegedly objectionable social media post concerning the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. The FIR, registered in May 2022, charged Dr. Lal under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh ruled that Dr. Lal’s post, which commented on the presence of a purported ‘shiva linga’ in the mosque, prima facie created societal disharmony and was intended to hurt religious sentiments. The judge emphasized that freedom of speech is not absolute, particularly for academics and intellectuals who hold significant influence. The court found that Dr. Lal’s remarks, even after the FIR was filed, contradicted the beliefs and customs of Shiva worshippers and promoted hatred and communal tension. The court rejected the argument that the absence of immediate unrest negated the criminality of his actions, stating that the intent to cause disharmony was sufficient.
Dr. Lal was arrested on May 20, 2022, and released on bail the following day. The High Court’s decision upholds the FIR and allows the legal process to continue. The court highlighted the professor’s responsibility as a role model and the weight his statements carry in influencing public opinion.
First Piper 