New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Uttar Pradesh Police for taking too long to file a FIR in a hate crime, declaring that such offences against people because of their faith had no place in a secular nation.
A court panel led by Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna ruled that hate crimes motivated by religion have no place in a secular nation and that it is the government’s first priority to safeguard its people.
“It is said he was wearing the cap…. when such crimes are not acted against then an atmosphere is fostered which is a dangerous issue and it has to be rooted out from our lives,” it said, warning the authorities if they ignored it, one day, it would come for you.
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When the top court heard a petition from Kazeem Ahmad Sherwani, 62, who claimed to have been a victim of an alleged hate crime in Noida in July 2021, it made these findings.
The bench told Additional Advocate General Garima Prasad, who was arguing on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, that the incident could not be ignored and expressed concern over the fact that the FIR was filed in January 2023, nearly a year and a half after the incident occurred in July 2021.
The bench noted that the FIR was first filed following the last hearing date in January and ordered the UP Police, who had previously denied that the case involved a hate crime, to provide the case diary. The bench has previously voiced its displeasure about the state’s unwillingness to file cases against persons accused of committing hate crimes.
The court told the UP government’s attorney: “Will you choose to ignore the existence of hate crimes and hide them from view? We are merely venting our pain.”
It emphasized that some rights exist that are inherent in people whether they are in the majority or the minority. “You are raised in a family from the time you are born, yet as a country, we are unique. This must be taken seriously “The highest court said.
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Senior attorney Huzefa Ahmadi argued on behalf of the petitioner that the state government had declined to recognize the incident as a hate crime and take timely action.
In defense of the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj argued that the petitioner’s injuries were brought on by resistance. The bench said that it should not be denied that some people in the nation have a collective attitude and often act in such way. Nataraj argued that because the petitioner is a member of a minority group, the occurrence is not a hate crime.
The bench continued, “If you ignore this, then one day it will come for you….” and added that the only way to find a solution is to acknowledge the issue.
The top court ordered the Uttar Pradesh Police to document within two weeks the dates on which the incident’s suspects were detained and released on bail.
The petitioner filed a case with the top court to demand that the police officers who ignored his report and the accused who tortured him be brought to justice.
