Bombay High Court Directs Police Not To Conduct Mock Drills Depicting Muslims as Terrorists Till February 10
The PIL stated that mock drills by police depicting a particular community are against Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution
A division bench of the Bombay High Court at Aurangabad comprising Justice Mangesh Patil and Justice Chalpagaonkar has recently directed the police not to conduct mock drills depicting Muslim Community as terrorists till February 10.
The Division Bench asked the public prosecutor to inform the court about the guidelines to be followed for mock drills.
The High Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by one activist Sayed Usama wherein it was alleged that the said mock drills indicated that the Muslims are terrorists due to the attire and slogans raised during the mock drill.
The PIL was filed with respect to the mock drills conducted by the police at Ahemadnagar Chandrapur and Aurangabad wherein police were dressed as Muslim Community for the mock drill.
The Petitioner alleged that such drills are biased against the Muslim Community and imply that terrorists belong to a particular community only. The plea stated,
“The petitioner submits that the conduct of aforesaid mock drills wherein a Muslim community is deliberately shown as 'terrorist' by the police authorities and the State clearly shows their bias against the Muslim community and sends a message that terrorists have a particular religion and this act of the police amounts to defaming the Muslim community.”
It was stated that dressed-up men were shouting “Nara-e-Takbeer” and “Allah-hu-Akbar”.
The PIL stated that such drills are against the right to dignity under Article 21 and are discriminatory against the community which is prohibited under Article 14 of the Constitution.
The high court has directed the police to not conduct such mock drills till the next hearing which is scheduled for 10th February.
Case title: Sayed Usama vs State of Maharashtra & Ors