Supreme Court quashes "absurd" FIR against Principal booked for 'Hinduphobic' books in college library

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday quashed the first information report (FIR) registered against the Principal of Indore's New Government Law College who was booked for promoting Hinduphobia and anti-India propaganda after certain books were discovered in the college library..A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said that the allegations in the FIR were absurd since the books in question could be found even in the Supreme Court library.The Court lamented why the State was so keen to persecute the accused, Professor Inamur Rehman."Why is the State so keen on persecuting in such a case? This is about syllabus. He was already out on anticipatory bail. This book can be found in the Supreme Court library also. Additional AG is appearing on caveat that too for such a matter!" the Court stated. .The Court was hearing an appeal by Rehman challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that had refused an interim stay on the FIR and adjourned by ten weeks the hearing in the plea filed by the professor for quashing the case.According to a report by The Print, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Syayamsevak Sangh (RSS), resorted to protests over what they claimed was “Hinduphobic” books in the library of the Shasakiya Navin Vidhi Mahavidyalaya (New Government Law College) in Indore.The two books in question were authored by Dr Farhat Khan and were 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 fulfillment in a male-dominated world and that scriptures revealed how they were subservient to men.A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Rehman for promoting enmity between communities and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by an LLM student at the college who had links to the ABVP.The allegations led to faculty suspensions, Prof Rehman's resignation and a police case.In December 2022, the Supreme Court had stayed the Professor's arrest.During the hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the counsel for the appellant pointed out that the professor was due to retire soon. However, counsel for the State of Madhya Pradesh opposed interim relief and said that the Section 482 CrPC proceedings before the High Court could instead be expedited, as the charges were serious.The Court, however, said that the High Court failed to exercise its power under Section 482 CrPC. "The single-judge has failed to exercise jurisdiction vested in him under 482. Leave granted. FIR is nothing else but an absurdity," the order said. It, therefore, proceeded to quash the FIR. "We therefore allow the appeal, and quash and set aside the FIR," the top court ordered..Advocate Aljo K Joseph appeared for the professor.