India’s Supreme Court rules calling Muslims Pakistani not crime

New Delhi: In its latest ruling, the Indian Supreme Court stated that calling someone "Pakistani" is not a crime, although these words are not considered appropriate.

In India, right-wing extremists often call Muslims "Pakistanis" to question their patriotism, but the court declared that this is not a criminal act.

In a case from Jharkhand, the court ruled that a person who referred to a government employee as "Pakistani" could not be punished, as these words do not fall under criminal threats or equivalent to an assault.

Legal experts have criticized the judicial decision, saying it could create an unnecessary distinction between hate speech and undesirable statements. Experts warn that this ruling might further encourage right-wing extremists.

This case was filed in the Chas area of Jharkhand following a complaint from an Urdu translator and government employee. The complaint alleged that a man named Harinandan Singh had abused the government employee, targeted him based on religion, and calling him "Pakistani."

Initially, a local court had filed a case against Singh, but the Rajasthan High Court later upheld the decision. Ultimately, the Supreme Court dismissed all charges, ruling that the use of these words is not a punishable offense.

This decision could raise questions about the growing hate campaign against Muslims in India, as it may provide legal grounds for such statements to be justified.