On October 15, 2024, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a case against two individuals accused under IPC Section 295A for allegedly shouting "Jai Shri Ram" in a mosque.
The Court ruled that the slogan could not be perceived as an insult intended to outrage the religious sentiments of any community. Referring to a statement from the complainant, the Court noted that Hindus and Muslims were living in harmony in the area, making it implausible that the incident could have caused religious discord.
The accused were charged with several offences under the IPC, including Sections 447 (criminal trespass), 505 (public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (common intention), and 295A.
However, the Court determined that none of these charges were substantiated by the facts, and allowing the case to continue would be an abuse of legal process.
Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahendra Singh Dhoni v Yerraguntla Shyamsundar (2017),
the High Court reiterated that not every act could be considered an offence under Section 295A, especially if it did not disrupt public order or peace.
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