Delhi High Court Allows Holding Of Seminar On Fascism, Asks Organizers To Give Invitees’ Details To Police

The Delhi High Court has allowed holding of a two days National Seminar to be conducted through “Bharat Bachao” platform on the theme “Understanding Fascism In Present India Context” and asked the parties to ensure that it is held in a “peaceful atmosphere.”

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a plea moved by Gade Inna Reddy and Dr. Mondru Francis Gopinath challenging the order passed by Delhi police on March 09 denying permission to hold the seminar two days before its schedule.

It is the petitioners’ case that they are members of “Bharat Bachao”, a collective of scholars, social activists, advocates and politicians, among others, and want to “voice their opinions about issues pertaining to the society at large.” 

The national seminar is scheduled to be held at Harikishan Singh Surjit Bhavan at I.P.Estate on March 11 and 12.

Keeping in view the “apprehension of some mishappening” in the mind of the Delhi police, the court gave nod to the event while directing the petitioners to compile a list of invitees with complete details of their residence and identity cards and to submit it to the concerned SHO.

“Needless to observe that the parties are to co-operate with each other to ensure that the seminar is held in a peaceful atmosphere and no untoward incident would occur,” the court said.

It also directed the petitioners to provide a contact number of a responsible person of the organization to enable the police authorities to have a contact in respect of the two days seminar.

“The petitioner assures and undertakes that there shall be no cause of any untoward incident so far as the Organising Committee and participants are concerned”, it added.

The counsel appearing for the Delhi police submitted that the anxiety of the police authorities would be satisfied if certain information is provided to them. It was contended that the permission for conducting the seminar may be granted subject to directions or conditions passed by the court.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for the petitioners submitted that apart from ten keynote speakers mentioned in the petition, other participants are strictly invited on invitation basis.

It was submitted that the anxiety of the police authorities to that extent will be resolved by providing a list of such persons.

As Gonsalves handed over contact details of the petitioners to the police authorities, the court disposed of the petition subject to certain conditions.

Title: GADE INNA REDDY AND ANR. v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT DELI AND ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 222

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