Prima Facie Disturbed Harmony In Society: Delhi HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against DU Professor Over Post Relating To Gyanvapi Mosque

The Delhi High Court has refused to quash an FIR registered against Ratan Lal, a professor of history at Delhi University, over a social media post in relation to the controversy regarding Gyanvapi Mosque prima facie observing that he had created disturbance of harmony in the society. The post read as “Yadi yeh Shiv Ling hai to Lagta hai shayad Shiv ji ka bhi khatna kar diya gaya tha.” Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said this Court is of the view that "prima facie", Lal created "disturbance of the harmony" of the society and that his tweet or post were made with the "intention to hurt the sentiments" of a large number of the society. Justice Singh also said that the remarks made by Lal were contrary to the beliefs and customs followed and practiced by the worshippers and believers of “Lord Shiva or Shiva Linga.” “Thus, the same shows that whatever content was posted by the petitioner not only hurts the religious sentiments of the complainant but also promotes hatred, enmity and communal tensions among two different communities,” the Court said. Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Aditya Kumar Choudhary, Mr. Sandeep Pandey, Mr. Aditya Anand Singh and Mr. Anurag Yadav, Advocates Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Yudhvir Singh Chauhan, APP for the State; Mr. Shiwal Bhalla, Respondent No.2 in person Title: DR. RATAN LAL v. STATE GOVT.