MAULANA ANSAR RAZA Vs. UDHAV THACKREY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, who claims to be the Chairman of a NGO Gharib Nawaz Foundation, pleads that he is a social activist and works for betterment of the society. The present writ petition is filed purportedly in public interest seeking directions to immediately arrest the Members of Parliament of Shiv Sena for allegedly provoking religious sentiments of minority communities by forcing a Muslim Catering Supervisor at the New Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi, who was fasting for Ramzan, to eat chapati.

(2.) IT is averred by the petitioner that the facts mentioned in the writ petition are based on the reports of print and visual media about the alleged action of Members of Parliament from Maharashtra whereby they had force fed 'chapattis ' to a 'rozedar ' Muslim Resident Manager at Maharashtra Sadan. Contending that the said action of the Members of Parliament provokes religious sentiments of the citizens of India, the petitioner sought the following reliefs: -

(3.) THE learned Additional Solicitor General, Shri Sanjay Jain who appeared on behalf of the respondent No.14 - Union of India on advance notice, at the outset has brought to our notice that the issue sought to be espoused in the instant writ petition has already been taken note of by the Department of Home and after making the necessary enquiry, the Home Minister on 25.07.2014 made a statement in the Parliament that the incident was regrettable and unfortunate and that the Government is committed to safeguard religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution to its citizens. A copy of the statement made by the Home Minister has been placed before this Court which reads as under: -