Supreme Court Rejects Wasim Rizvi's PIL to Remove Quran Verses, Slaps 50k Fine

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea that pushed towards the removal of 26 verses or suras contained in the Quran. The writ petition was filed by former UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Wasim Rizvi as it according to him violated the law of the land and was against the tenets of the constitution like sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the country. 

Syed Wasim Rizvi sought the removal of such verses from the holy Quran that are allegedly used as justifications by Islamist terrorist groups for carrying out attacks against the non-believers. He wanted these verses to be declared unconstitutional, non-effective, and non-functional.

Rizvi further insisted that a committee of religious experts must be appointed to get an opinion on the subject matter of the petition for the interest of the larger public. Read more

Rizvi also sought the government to be directed to formulate policy on the subject matter of the petition or pass appropriate legislation in accordance with the will of the court. 

A bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman said, "It is an absolutely frivolous petition." The bench also included justices BR Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy who had earlier cautioned Rizvi's lawyer against filing the writ petition, which was not paid heed to and later resulted in the penalty. 

The bench had asked senior advocate RK Raizada who was appearing for Rizvi whether he was serious about pressing the petition. As he remained adamant on submitting the plea instead of withdrawing it, the court before slamming a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the petitioner Syed Wasim Rizvi dismissed the plea. 

Rizvi continued that the main focus of the petition was the unregulated indoctrination of the children in the madrassas who are made to study the literal verses of the Quran which according to him radicalizes the young minds. 

The plea states, "On account of the verses of Holy Quran, (more particularly described in the Writ Petition), the religion of Islam is drifting away from its basic tenets with a fast pace and nowadays is identified with violent behavior, militancy, fundamentalism, extremism, and terrorism."

He further alleged that post the demise of Prophet Muhammad, few messages that were compiled by the caliphs were doubtfully genuine and different from the words of Allah as revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Read more

He insists that according to Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution, religious institutions have the freedom to teach with liberty. However, they do not have the liberty to teach anything illegal, which violates the Law of the Land or the Indian Constitution. 

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