Madhya Pradesh High Court rejects plea for guidelines to prevent misleading news targeting Muslims

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently refused to entertain a plea that sought guidelines against misleading news reports and publications targeting and defaming the Muslim community and Islam [Mahruf Ahamd Khan v. State of Madhya Pradesh]..While dismissing the writ petition, a Bench of Justice Vishal Mishra observed that the plea should have been filed as a public interest litigation petition."In view of the nature of relief which has been claimed in the writ petition coupled with the averments made in the complaint it is clear that the petition is in the nature of a public interest litigation for which mandamus cannot be issued. Under these circumstances, this Court refrains from entertaining the writ petition," the Court said. .The plea was filed by one Maruf Ahmad Khan, who sought several directions from the Court, including the registration of a criminal case against the editors of two Hindi newspapers for allegedly using terms like 'Love Jihad' to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and incite communal hatred.The plea also sought the issuance of strict guidelines to prevent the circulation of misleading and false information in print and electronic media targeting Muslims and Islam."Should issue strict guidelines to take preventive action against the misleading news and false information being served to the general public through newspapers and news channels against Muslims and Islam, so that the spirit of secularism can be strengthened and the atrocities being committed against Muslims on the basis of religion can be curbed and a civilized society can be created," the petition said..The State's counsel objected to the maintainability of the plea, arguing that the petitioner lacked locus standi to seek the reliefs claimed.In response, the counsel for the petitioner contended that as a member of the Muslim community, his religious sentiments along with those of others were being hurt by the offensive content published in certain newspapers.The counsel further said that since no action was taken by the authorities, he filed the present plea..However, the Court declined to entertain the plea, stating that if no action had been taken on the petitioner’s complaint, he could seek a remedy by approaching higher authorities or by filing a complaint before the appropriate Magistrate to address his grievances.Advocate Deepak Bundele appeared for the petitioner.Government Advocate Sumit Raghuwanshi appeared for the State..[Read Order]