News Brief
Chhattisgarh HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against Professors Accused Of Compelling Hindu Students To Offer Namaz
Namaz (Representative Image)
The Chhattisgarh High Court has refused to quash an FIR lodged against professors of Guru Ghasidas Central University, accused of compelling Hindu students to offer namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp on Eid, the Times of India reported.
The division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey noted that intervening in the investigation at this stage would be premature.
The FIR was filed by Kota police in April, based on a complaint that over 150 students, including non-Muslims, were compelled to perform namaz during NSS camp organised by the university at Shivtarai, Kota, from 26 March to 1 April.
Arvind Dubey, the State’s counsel, opposed the petition to quash the FIR, emphasising that serious allegations had been made against the professors.
He contended that the petitioners used verbal and visual means to pressure Hindu complainants into offering namaz.
Highlighting that the investigation is still in progress and witnesses have corroborated the claims, he urged the court to reject the petitions.
Their counsel argued that the complaint was filed 14-15 days after the incident, suggesting it was politically motivated.
“The participants were not compelled by the petitioners to offer namaz, and on a false accusation, the police registered the offence,” the counsel said, as quoted by the Indian Express.
The court, referencing a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, said that the power to quash FIRs under Section 482 CrPC should be used sparingly.
"When a prayer for quashing the FIR is made by the alleged accused, the court when it exercises the power under Section 482 CrPC, only has to consider whether or not the allegations in the FIR disclose the commission of a cognizable offence and is not required to consider on merits whether the allegations make out a cognizable offence or not and the court has to permit the investigating agency/police to investigate the allegations in the FIR,” the High Court observed.
Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey dismissed the petitions, observing that the investigation was ongoing and the accused were already out on bail.
