PIL seeking deletion of certain Quranic verses thrown out for being ‘absolutely frivolous’; Rs 50k costs imposed by SC

THE Supreme Court Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former Shia Waqf Board Chief Waseem Rizvi seeking the deletion of certain verses from the Quran allegedly because they violate the law of the land and promote extremism.

A bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, BR Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy called the petition "abslotely frivolous" and imposed costs of Rs. 50,000.

Senior advocate Ravindra Kumar Raizada appeared for Rizvi.

At the outset, Justice Nariman asked the advocate for the petitioner whether he was seriously pressing for his petition. When the petitioner's lawyer commenced arguments, Justice Nariman heard him for a few minutes and then went on to dismiss it.

Raizada submitted that he was confining the prayer to the regulation of Madrassa education. He submitted that the literal interpretation of certain verses preached violence against non-believers, and therefore teaching them could lead to the indoctrination of children.

Rizvi, in his plea, alleged that certain verses in the Quran are a threat to the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the country. He has sought a declaration from the court to hold those verses unconstitutional, non-effective and non-functional.

The plea also sought directions to appoint a committee of religious experts to get an opinion on the subject matter of the petition.

Earlier, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had issued a notice to Rizvi asking him to withdraw his comments on Quran failing which it will hold a hearing and direct authorities to take appropriate legal action against him

"The comments given in the media by you about the deletion of certain verses from the Quran are "highly provocative, objectionable and malicious, prejudicial to maintenance of peace and harmony, with intent to outrage the religious feelings of a particular community and to insult the particular religion," a notice issued by the NCM said.

The NCM further observed that the Commission was of the view that the remarks made by Rizvi appeared to be a well-thought conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony of the country.

In 1987, the Calcutta High Court also faced a similar petition which it had dismissed after observing that in a secular country like India the court could not interfere in religious, sacred beliefs and faith of the citizen and if such prayer was allowed the same would be going against the principle of secularism enshrined in the Constitution.