Calcutta HC Rejects PIL To Declare Chanting Of Jai Sri Ram A Fundamental Right [Read Order]

Partha Ghosh, a lawyer, had approached the High Court, and sought that no obstruction be created or no penal action be taken against those who chant the name or perform puja of Lord Ram.

It is like searching for a black cat in a dark room, which is not at all there, remarked the bench comprising of the Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee. The bench also said that it is amazed to see such a PIL being filed.

The writ petition had also mentioned about an FIR registered against a person for allegedly chanting 'Jai Sri Ram'. The bench, in this regard, said:

"If an FIR is registered and if due investigation and enquiry discloses any cognizable offence, law will take its due course. If any person is aggrieved by any action in the jurisdiction of the police or of the court in taking cognizance, he has various avenues for challenging that. We are not inclined to permit the contents of Annexure "P2" to the writ petition to be utilised for generating an issue, which is as of now, like searching for a black cat in a dark room, which is not at all there."

Some persons were detained by police for chanting "Jai Shri Ram" slogans when the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's motorcade passed through the troubled Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district. After this incident, BJP leaders had said that they will send post cards with "Jai Shri Ram" written on them to Mamata Banerjee.

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