Delhi High Court allows Bharat Bachao collective's seminar on fascism

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted permission to hold a seminar on the topic "Understanding Fascism in Present Indian Context", after Delhi Police had denied permission for the same.

The seminar is slated to be held on March 11 and 13 by a collective called 'Bharat Bachao'.

Gade Inna Reddy and Mondru Francis Gopinath, both belonging to the collective, approached the Court stating that the Delhi Police unilaterally denied them permission to organise the programme just two days before it was scheduled.

The petitioners informed the Court that several scholars, social activists, advocates and politicians are members of 'Bharat Bachao' and they speak on matters concerning the country and society at large.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela allowed the event but directed the petitioners to compile a list of invitees with complete details about their residence and identity cards and submit the same to the local police station.

"The other invitees who are still travelling and would be reaching Delhi by tomorrow, a similar list of such persons would be handed over to the SHO, IP Estate on or before by 12:00 noon tomorrow i.e., 11.03.2023," the Court ordered.

Justice Gedela also directed the petitioners to provide one contact number of a responsible person of the organization.

"The petitioner assures and undertakes that there shall be no cause of any untoward incident so far as the Organising Committee and participants are concerned... Needless to observe that the parties are to co-operate with each other to ensure that the seminar is held in a peaceful atmosphere and no untoward incident would occur."

The Court passed the order after it was informed by the Delhi Police that their anxiety would be satisfied if certain information about the event is provided to them.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for the organisers and said that apart from the ten keynote speakers, the other participants are also strictly on invitation basis and, therefore, the anxiety of the authorities to that extent will be assuaged by providing a list of those persons.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves along with advocates Sravan Kumar, Mohit K Jakhar and Medha Singh appeared for the petitioners.

Respondents were represented through Standing Counsel (Civil) Santosh Kumar Tripathi and advocate Utkarsh Singh.

[Read Order]