Plea Challenging Verses Of Quran: Supreme Court Dismisses The Plea To Waive 50,000 Cost Imposed

Supreme Court today dismissed the plea as withdrawn, filed by Former Chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board, Lucknow & President of All India Shia Yateem Khana, Lucknow seeking withdrawal of order of imposing cost of Rs 50,000 in a plea which sought for removal of 26 verses of Quran.

Bench of Justice RF Nariman, Justice KM Joseph and Justice BR Gavai said, "Alright, application dismissed as withdrawn with the consent of the party."

Advocate Ashok Kumar Deb appearing for Syeed Wasim submitted that he wished to withdraw the application.

Upon Court's question as to when the cost would be paid, Advocate Deb informed that Rizvi after obtaining No Objection Certificate has filed a review petition.

The Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice RF Nariman, Justice BR Gavai & Justice Hrishikesh Roy on April 12, 2021 had dismissed the petition challenging certain verses of holy Quran by imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner.

In the present matter, the petitioner had prayed for declaring the verses/suras contained in Holy Quran violative of Law of the Land as they promote extremism, terrorism & pose serious threat to the soverignity, unity & integrity of the country.

The petitioner had also prayed for restraining the muslim minority instutions throughout the country from imparting religious teachings in the basis of 26 verses of holy Quran & to restrain the Imams of muslim community from delivering sermons in the mosques & other gatherings the 26 verses.

Relief was also been sought to direct through a blanket order the printers & publishers & booksellers of the country to print, publish & sell “holy Quran” by excluding the 26 verses & issue appropriate directions for Constitution of a committee of experts of Islamic Law in order to get their opinion on the subject matter of the petition in larger public interest & further direct the Union of India to declare its policy on the subject/issue white paper or pass appropriate legislation to this effect.

The plea highlighted that the matter involved in the petition does not aim to malign the image of any religion or hurt religious sentiments of the people but to save the muslims of the country, particularly innocent madrasa students from radicalization & save the unity, integrity & sovereignty of the country from extremism, fundamentalism & terrorism.

Case Title: Syed Waseem Rizvi v. Union of India & Ors