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The observation was made by the Supreme Court while closing a case against a man accused of calling a government servant ‘Pakistani’.
The Supreme Court of India. (File Image/PTI)
The Supreme Court ruled that calling someone ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ or ‘Pakistani’ may be in poor taste but it does not amount to an offence of hurting religious sentiments. The observation was made by a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma while closing a case against a man accused of calling a government servant ‘Pakistani’.
The Supreme Court said, “The appellant is accused of hurting the religious feelings of the informant by calling him ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ and ‘Pakistani’. Undoubtedly, the statements made are in poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant.”
The complaint was filed by an Urdu translator and an acting clerk in Jharkhand as per which when the person visited the accused to furnish information about a Right To Information (RTI) application, the latter abused him by referring to his religion and insulting him.
There was no act on the accused’s part that could have provoked a breach of peace, the Supreme Court said.
“Evidently, there was no assault or use of force by the appellant to attract Section 353 IPC (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty),” it said.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
