'Hinduphobic' books in Indore law college library: Supreme Court stays arrest of Principal Prof Inamur Rehman

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the arrest of Principal at New Government Law College, Indore Prof Inamur Rehman in connection with allegations of promoting Hinduphobia and anti-India propaganda. (Inamur Rehman v. State of Madhya Pradesh)

A Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha also sought the response of the Madhya Pradesh government in the matter, within four weeks.

As per a report in ThePrint, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Syayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had been protesting since December 1 over what they claimed was a “Hinduphobic” book in the library of the Shasakiya Navin Vidhi Mahavidyalaya (New Government Law College) in Indore.

The allegations led to faculty suspensions, Prof Rehman's resignation and a police case. It involved two books written by Dr Farhat Khan titled ‘Collective Violence and Criminal Justice System’ and ‘Women and Criminal Law’.

The former has a passage examining the Hindu society’s treatment of women, with the claim that Hindu women were instruments of lust fulfilment in a male-dominated world, and that scriptures revealed how they were subservient to men.

The State Higher Education Minister had tweeted that Prof Rehman and Assistant Prof Dr Mirza Beg had been suspended with immediate effect. A first information report (FIR) was registered on the basis of a complaint by an LL.M. student at the college who had links to the ABVP.

The matter was taken on board after Advocate Aljo K Joseph made a mentioning on Friday. Advocate Abhinav P Dhanodkar also represented the petitioner.

[Read order]