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The Supreme Court on Tuesday recorded the statement of the counsel for Uttarakhand that the Dharam Sansad event which is set to take place will not have any “untoward incident” take place.

“If these issues do take place, the Chief Secretary (of Uttarakhand) will be asked to appear,” the bench warned the Counsel orally.

While the state of Uttarakhand’s counsel informed the Supreme Court to have “trust and faith in them”, the Top Court’s bench said, “Trust is for everyone but things are different on the ground”.

A bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice CT Ravikumar was hearing an application highlighting Dharam Sansad events which according to the petitioner are springing up again and again.

Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner informed the Supreme Court that though events continue to take place, no arrests are made.

Counsel for the state of Himachal Pradesh was also directed to file a status report while stating that the Apex Court judgment against Hate speeches and guidelines thereto are laid down already in Tehseen Poonawalla Vs. Union of India (Supreme Court, 2018).

Earlier, the bench had refused to stay the Dharam Sansad event that was to take place in Himachal Pradesh, the court however granted liberty to the petitioners to move the local authorities at the place where the event is to take place. 

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the Delhi Police to file a fresh affidavit in plea pertaining to alleged hate speech at the the Dharam Sansad event. The bench while expressing its displeasure on the affidavit asked the Additional Solicitor General appearing for Delhi police,

“This affidavit is filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police? We hope he understands the nuances as also the other aspects. If he has merely reproduced the enquiry report or has he applied his mind? If this is the stand, we will have to ask the Commissioner to look into it.” 

The ASG submitted that he will ensure that a fresh affidavit is filed in the matter.

The court had further directed the State of Uttarakhand to file a status a report on the action it has taken in respect of the ‘hate speeches’ that was delivered on the 17th December 2021 at Haridwar organised by Yati Narsinghanand.

The above transpired in the plea in Supreme Court which seeks the court’s intervention in respect of the ‘hate speeches’ that was delivered on the 17th December 2021 at Haridwar organised by Yati Narsinghanand, and on 19th December 2021 at Delhi, organised by an organization called ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’.
According to the petition, the speeches were made with the apparent objective of declaring war against a significant section of the Indian Citizenry.

Case title: Qurban Ali Vs Union of India