"No Public Interest": Delhi High Court Rejects PIL Seeking Action Against Dalai Lama For Kissing Minor Boy On Lips

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action against Dalai Lama allegedly molesting a boy child by kissing on his lips in February last year.

A division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela took judicial notice of the fact that Dalai Lama has expressed his apology to those who have been offended by his action.

On viewing the video of the incident, the bench said that Dalai Lama was trying to be playful and that it has to be seen in the context of Tibetan culture.

“The fact that he heads a religious sect which is not in the best of terms today is also to be borne in mind,” the court said.

The court also noted that the incident happened in full public glare and that it was the minor who had expressed his desire and intent to meet and hug Dalai Lama.

The bench observed that the matter should not be entertained as a PIL and thus, dismissed the petition.

The court dismissed the PIL moved by a group of NGOs and individuals working for child welfare. Apart from seeking action against Dalai Lama, the petitioners were also aggrieved by revealing of identity of the minor child and to retract his identity.

During the hearing, the bench orally remarked that the incident was not something premeditated and that Dalai Lama has apologised for the same.

“The government will examine it. We don't want to get into this. There is no public interest. It is not a PIL which we should entertain,” the bench said.

The petitioners' counsel said that if the PIL is not allowed and action is not taken, kissing on lips of a minor will be normalized. The counsel further said that parents of minor children are often mesmerised by spiritual leaders and gurus and that they coerce child to participate in such acts.

To this, the bench remarked: “There are Gurus who kick people. We have seen that also. They thrash people. What can we do? We can't go into all this. It is not our domain.”

The bench also said: “Next someone will say they got a bad handshake. If you're aggrieved, please file a complaint…. Give it a quietus now. It is not a case for PIL.”

Title: CONFEDERATION OF NGOS & ANR. V/s UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 761