Srinagar court summons designers Shivan and Narresh, Elle on complaint over Gulmarg fashion show

A Srinagar court has issued notice to directors of luxury fashion brand Shivan and Narresh and Editor-in-Chief of Elle India magazine on a criminal complaint against their recent fashion show in Kashmir’s Gulmarg..Special Mobile Magistrate Faizan-I-Nazar said it is mandatory for the Court to hear the accused in terms of Section 223(1) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before deciding to take cognizance of the complaint.“Accordingly put accused on notice for appearance through registered post with acknowledgment due that the matter will be considered for taking cognizance on 8th April 2025 and they will be heard before such consideration and accused be informed if they failed to appear, matter will be considered in their absence,” the judge said in the order dated March 11..The order was passed on a complaint filed by Aadil Nazir Khan, the spokesperson of the Awami Ittehad Party, through advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar. The complaint sought prosecution of directors of Shivan and Narresh and Elle India’s Editor-in-Chief under Sections 296 (obscene acts and songs) and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 50-A (drinking in public place) of the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act, 1958..As per the complaint, the fashion show was obscene and inappropriate and was organized during the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.“During the course of the fashion show, several elements of the event including the attire, choreography, and behaviour of the participants, were found to be obscene and offensive. The content was explicitly sexualized and disrespectful to the religious and cultural sensibilities of the Muslim community and most particularly the Kashmir culture. Furthermore, the timing of the event during the month of Ramadan was particularly inappropriate and seemed to be intended to insult the religious sentiments of Muslim,” the complaint said..It also alleged that that show witnessed public consumption of alcohol which amounted to a violation of public decency and moral conduct during Ramzan.“The consumption of alcohol during Ramadan is particularly offensive as it goes against the values of abstinence that Muslims adhere to during this holy month.”The fashion show, photographs of which recently went viral on the social media, generated to controversy in Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called for a report and promised action.“The shock & anger are totally understandable. The images I have seen show a complete disregard for local sensitives & that too during this holy month. My offence has been in touch with the local authorities & I’ve asked for a report to be submitted within the next 24 hours. Further action, as appropriate, will follow from this report,” Abdullah posted on X on March 9.