Prophet Remarks Row: No Coercive Action To Be Taken Against Nupur Sharma, Says Supreme Court
Prophet Muhammad Remarks Row: The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by Nupur Sharma urging protection from arrest as well as the revival of her withdrawn petition seeking clubbing of FIRs.
In a relief for Nupur Sharma, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that no coercive action should be taken against the suspended BJP leader over her remarks on the Prophet, ANI reported. Saying that it never wanted Nupur Sharma to visit every court for relief, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, asked various states to respond to her request to club multiple FIRs against her.
FIRs have been lodged against Sharma in Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam. The top court sought responses of the Centre and the concerned states by August 10, the next date of hearing.
The court was hearing a plea by Sharma urging protection from arrest as well as the revival of her withdrawn petition seeking clubbing of FIRs lodged in several states over her remarks.
Appearing for Nupur Sharma, advocate Maninder Singh said there were serious threats to her life. While dictating the order, the Supreme Court bench took note of the statement by Ajmer Dargah khadim Salman Chishti, who on camera offered his house to anyone who beheaded Sharma.
The bench permitted the petitioner to file an additional affidavit giving specific details of the threats extended to her after filing the application, PTI reported.
"As an interim measure, it is directed that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner pursuant to the impugned FIRs/complaints or such FIRs/complaints which may be registered/entertained in future pertaining to the telecast dated May 26, 2022," the SC bench said.
READ | 'Her Loose Tongue Set Country On Fire': SC Slams Nupur Sharma Over Prophet Remarks
On July 1, the same bench of the Supreme Court had severely criticised Sharma for her controversial comments against the Prophet, saying her "loose tongue" had "set the entire country on fire" and that she was "single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country".
"She actually has a loose tongue and has made all kinds of irresponsible statements on TV and set the entire country on fire. Yet, she claims to be a lawyer of 10 years standing... She should have immediately apologised for her comments to the whole country," the court had said.
Refusing to entertain Sharma's plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged in various states, the court had held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda, or some nefarious activities.
The court's remarks had come in the backdrop of the brutal murder of a tailor in Udaipur, Kanhaiya Lal, by two men, claiming that they were avenging an insult to Islam. A chemist in Amravati, Umesh Kolhe, was also killed for supporting Nupur Sharma.
Nupur Sharma's remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered massive protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.
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