The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the state of Uttarakhand regarding the hate speeches delivered during the Dharam Sansad held in Haridwar last year.
A Bench comprising Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Abhay S. Oka passed the order on a petition filed by journalist Qurban Ali and Senior Advocate (former judge of Patna High Court)) Anjana Prakash in January.
The state government was given time till April 22 by the apex court to file a status report in the religious event.
The Counsel representing the Uttarakhand government apprised the court that out of four first information reports (FIRs), charge sheets have been filed in three cases.
After the petitioners told the court that the next event on Dharam Sansad was scheduled to be held in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, the Apex Court gave them liberty to intimate the Collector and the Superintendent of Police of area about the event.
The petitioners further filed an application to make Himachal Pradesh a party to the case.
The speeches made at the Dharam Sansad during December 17 to 19, 2021, led to huge outrage after several videos of leaders at the religious congregation emerged on social media.
Police filed an FIR naming several Hindu leaders for allegedly making hate speeches.
Days after the event, five former chiefs of the armed forces and more than 100 prominent citizens wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, criticising the remarks.
One of the speakers at the event allegedly passed an objectionable comment against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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