After the controversy erupted over a copy of Dr Farhat Khan's book found in the library of government-run Naveen Law College in Indore, Supreme Court expressed surprise and asked why to arrest the principal.
While hearing the petition of the principal of Indore's government law college Dr Inamur Rahman seeking protection from arrest in the case where an FIR was registered against him because an alleged "Hinduphobic" book was found in the library of the law college, the apex court expressed surprise on state's stand.
The matter was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. When the bench was proceeding to dispose of the petition, MP state's counsel requested the bench to record that the state is intending to challenge the order of the MP High Court which granted anticipatory bail to the principal on December 22, 2022.
"State must do some more serious stuff. He is a College Principal. Why you are arresting him? A book is found in the library which is said to have some communal undertones. Therefore he is sought to be arrested?. The book was purchased in 2014. And he is sought to be arrested? Are you serious?", CJI Chandrachud asked the state's counsel, as reported by Live Law.
On this, the state's counsel said that the students have complained that the principal has been teaching from the book, contradicting his defence that he never knew about its existence.
"If you want to challenge the order, you do it. We will deal with it", CJI Chandrachud said.
The background of Indore's law college book controversy
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused the college and principal of promoting fundamentalism and “negative thoughts” about the government and Army. Also, the `controversial’ book Dr Farhat Khan was found in the library of the college.
The principal's counsel submitted in the Supreme Court that the book was purchased by the college in 2014 when he was merely a professor and not the principal and hence he had no involvement in the process of buying books for the college library.
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