New DelhI: While quashing the sedition case, the Karnataka High Court has also said that children should not be taught to criticize the policies of the government. The case is related to Shaheen School in Bidar, Karnataka. In 2020, there was a controversy over students staging a play against the CAA and NRC.
New Delhi: The Karnataka High Court has quashed a sedition case against a school management, saying the abuses used against the prime minister were derogatory and irresponsible, but did not amount to sedition.
According to a report published in the Hindustan Times, Justice Hemant Chandangoudar of the Kalaburagi bench of the High Court quashed the FIR lodged by the New Town police station in Bidar against all the persons of the management of Shaheen School in Bidar Alauddin, Abdul Khaliq, Mohammad Bilal Inamdar and Mohammad Mahtab.
The court said that elements of Section 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have not been found in the case.
“The utterance of derogatory words that the Prime Minister should be hit with shoes is not only derogatory but also irresponsible. Constructive criticism of government policy is allowed, but constitutional functionaries cannot be insulted for taking policy decisions. This may cause objection to some sections of people,” he said.
While it was alleged that the play presented by the children criticised various laws of the government and showed that Muslims may have to leave the country if such laws are implemented, the high court said the play took place within the school premises. No words were uttered by the children to incite people to violence or create public disorder.
