'One Must Respect Sentiments Of Other Relgions': What The Ranchi Court Held In 'Quran Distribution' Order [Read Order]

The copy of controversial order passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, directing a woman to distribute five copies of Quran for getting bail is now out.

The condition was imposed by judicial magistrate Manish Singh on July 15 while allowing release on bail of 19 year old Richa Bharti, who was accused of hurting religious sentiments through a Facebook post

"To neutralize the situation" the Magistrate thought it fit to direct Bharti to donate one copy of the religious text to Sadar Anjuman Islamia Committee and four copies to other libraries of various schools.

This was in addition of condition to furnishing bail bond of Rs. 7000 with two sureties of like amount.

Bharti was arrested on July 12 for offences under Section 153A (promoting communal hatred) and 295A(hurting religious sentiments) of Indian Penal Code on a complaint by Sadar Anjuman Committee at Pithoriya near Ranchi over a post shared by her in Facebook regarding the lynching of Tabarez Ansari.

Allowing her release on bail after three days of custody, the Magistrate said ;

"The Court cannot ignore the fact that religious harmony must be maintained in our society, one must respect sentiments of other religion as well. Considering the age of the petitioenr and the nature of offence as alleged, in order to neutralize the situation, this Court thinks it proper to impose one additional condition to donate give copies of Holy Kuran, out of which one copy may be gifted to Sadar Anjuman Committee, Pathoria and rest four copes may be donated to Government University/College/School of Ranchi by way of bona fide gesture and submit a report within 15 days".

The order has generated a country wide controversy, with many persons criticising it in social media.

Bharati said that she will not comply with the condition to donate copies of the religious book. She said that although she respects the court, the verdict asking her to distribute Quran copies was an infringement of her fundamental rights. 

The Advocate General of Jharkhand Ajit Kumar has supported the decision by saying that the Court has passed the 'right order'.

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