'Massacre of Muslims openly': Petition in SC against Dharam Sansad, CJI says – email

Supreme Court on Ghaziabad Dharma Sansad: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the Dharam Sansad to be held in Ghaziabad. It is being told that on the demand for an immediate hearing, the Chief Justice has said that an email should be sent for an immediate hearing.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked some former bureaucrats and social activists, who had filed a petition against the 'Dharam Sansad' to be held in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, to send emails for its urgent listing. The petition alleges that the call for "genocide of Muslims" has been made. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some of the former bureaucrats who had filed the petition, told a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar that the petition needs to be listed urgently.

Email by Chief Justice

Chief Justice Khanna said, "I will consider it. Bhushan said the genocide of Muslims has been publicly announced and the petition needs urgent hearing as the 'Dharam Sansad' will begin on Tuesday. The 'Dharam Sansad' is scheduled to be held from Tuesday to Saturday in the premises of the Shiv Shakti temple in Dasna, Ghaziabad through the Yati Narsinghanand Foundation.

Willful contempt petition

The Supreme Court had directed all competent and appropriate authorities to take suo motu action against people or groups indulging in communal activities and hate speeches. Activists and former bureaucrats have filed a contempt petition against the Ghaziabad district administration and the Uttar Pradesh Police, accusing them of "wilful contempt" of the apex court's order.

Last time Dharam Sansad was held in Haridwar

The petitioners include activist Aruna Roy, retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Sharma, former IFS officers Deb Mukherjee and Navrekha Sharma, among others. A controversy had erupted over alleged hate speeches at the 'Dharam Sansad' held earlier in Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Several people, including Yati Narsinghanand and others, were criminally prosecuted in the case.