In a significant judgment, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday quashed a criminal case lodged against two individuals accused of raising “Jai Shri Ram” slogans inside a mosque. The single-judge bench, headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, ruled in favor of the accused, stating that the mere chanting of these slogans does not inherently hurt religious sentiments or warrant charges under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case dates back to September 24, 2023, when the accused allegedly entered a mosque at around 10:50 p.m. and raised religious slogans. They were charged under multiple sections of the IPC, including Section 295A (outraging religious feelings), Section 447 (criminal trespass), Section 505 (statements conducive to public mischief), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), and Section 34 (common intention). The police initially registered the accused as unknown persons, later arresting them after identification.

However, the court observed that the complainant himself had acknowledged the peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims in the locality. Justice Nagaprasanna cited a Supreme Court ruling, emphasizing that not every action could be classified as an offense under Section 295A. The court concluded that allowing the case to proceed would amount to an abuse of the legal process.

By quashing the charges, the High Court underscored the importance of context in such cases and dismissed concerns that the slogans alone were sufficient to incite communal tension. The ruling provides relief to the accused, who had filed an appeal against the charges, challenging the police’s interpretation of the incident.

The verdict has sparked discussions about the fine line between freedom of expression and the potential for communal disharmony, as the court reaffirmed that slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” do not automatically constitute a criminal offense without concrete evidence of intent to provoke religious animosity.