Bidar Sedition Case: Karnataka High Court Issues Notice to Govt

On 5 Feburuary, lawyers of the Bidar Bar Association attempted to get a resolution passed stating that no lawyer should represent the arrested women as well as the management of the school in court.

(Photo: The Quint)

The Karnataka High Court on Friday,14 February, issued notice in the PIL filed seeking action against the police for illegally questioning minor students of Shaheen Education Society in Bidar. The two-judge bench directed the state government to file its response in the matter by February 19.

The court, however, refused to pass interim orders, stating that the interrogation of students cannot be stopped altogether, reported Bar and Bench.

A public interest litigation was filed in the Karnataka HC on Tuesday, 12 February, by advocate Nayana Jyothi Jhawar and the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM).

Bidar police had slapped sedition among other charges, against the headmistress of the school Fareeda Begum, as well as the parent of a child, after an ABVP worker alleged that an anti-CAA play at the Shaheen school insulted Prime Minister Modi.

As part of the investigation, police had questioned around 80 students over a period of five days. The interrogation of the students was stopped only after a notice was issued by State Child Rights Commission.

The PIL was against the interrogation. The petitioners have prayed that the court “direct the Karnataka Police to examine minors in accordance with the provisions of law and further initiate action against the delinquent police personnel,” Bar and Bench reported.

The plea also calls for “the payment of compensation to the parents or legal guardians of those students who have been illegally examined in the matter,” the report said.

(With inputs from Bar and Bench)