New Delhi: The Indian Supreme Court has said in its latest judgment that calling someone ‘Pakistani’ is not a crime, but these words are not considered good.
Right-wing extremists in India often call Muslims ‘Pakistani’ to question their patriotism, but the court has made it clear that this is not a criminal act.
The court, while giving its verdict in a case in Jharkhand, said that a person who calls a government employee ‘Pakistani’ and ‘Mian Tian’ cannot be punished, as these words neither come under the category of criminal intimidation nor are they tantamount to an attack on anyone.
Legal experts have criticized the court’s decision, saying that this decision may create an unnecessary distinction between hate speech and undesirable statements. Experts say that this decision may further embolden right-wing extremists.
The case was filed on a complaint by an Urdu translator and government employee in Chas, Jharkhand.
The case alleged that a man named Hari Nandan Singh misbehaved with the government employee, targeted him on the basis of religion, and insulted him by calling him a ‘Pakistani’ and ‘Mian Tian’.
Initially, a local court registered a case against Singh, but the Rajasthan High Court later upheld the decision. The Supreme Court eventually dropped all charges, saying that using these words was not a punishable offence.
The decision could raise questions about the growing hate campaign against Muslims in India, as such statements could be given legal justification.
