NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to consider a plea seeking a direction to arrest former Shia Waqf Board Chairman of Uttar Pradesh, Syed Waseem Rizvi, now known as Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi and seer Yati Narsinghanand for their alleged anti Muslim and anti Islam statements.
A bench of Chief Justice U U Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat questioned 'Indian Muslim Shia Isna Ashari Jamat' for filing a writ petition with such prayers.
"You are asking somebody to be arrested and criminally prosecuted by a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. If we proceed then what happens to Lalita Kumari judgment? Have you filed a complaint," the bench asked the counsel.
The lawyer said there have been several complaints filed against them.
"I will drop the prayer for arrest," he submitted.
The counsel then submitted he has filed a plea against publication of a book by Tyagi.
The court, however, was not convinced and declined to consider the petition.
"We can not pass direction in the matter. Sorry. These are not the petition which can be entertained under Article 32. You please withdraw your petition," the bench said, prompting the counsel to withdraw the plea.
The court, however, granted the petitioner liberty to peruse an appropriate remedy under law.
Both Tyagi and Narasinghanand were earlier arrested for their statements in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Narasinghanand was subsequently granted bail. However, Tyagi who was given interim bail, was told to surrender by the top court recently to apply for regular bail.
