SC dismisses PIL seeking removal of 26 verses of Quran

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 12

Terming it an “absolutely frivolous” petition, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed former UP Shia Waqf Board Chairman Waseem Rizvi’s PIL seeking the removal of 26 verses of the Quran that allegedly spread hatred, extremism and terrorism.

A Bench, led by Justice Rohinton F Nariman, imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Rizvi for wasting its judicial time by filing an “absolutely frivolous” petition.

On behalf of Rizvi, senior advocate RK Raizada said he would confine his prayer to the regulation of madrassa education.

“The Central government and the Madrasa boards may be called upon to ensure that steps are taken to avoid literal teaching of the verses advocating violence”, he said.

However, the Bench wasn’t convinced and went on to dismiss Rizvi’s petition.

Alleging that the said 26 verses in the Quran were a threat to the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, Rizvi had urged the top court to declare them non-functional.

Rizvi had sought direction to the authorities to remove the said 26 verses from the Quran, contending they were being used as “justifications” by Islamist terrorist groups for attacks on non-believers and civilians.

Maintaining that Islam is based on the concepts of equity, equality, forgiveness and tolerance, he alleged that due to extreme interpretations of these verses of the Quran, the religion has been drifting away from its basic tenets.

Several Muslim organisations and Islamic clerics came out in protest against Rizvi and an FIR was filed in Bareilly against Rizvi last month for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Muslims following complaints by Anjuman Khuddam-e-Rasool secretary Shan Ahmed and an organisation known as Ittehad-e-Millat council.