BackForce-feeding: Delhi HC dismisses PIL to disqualify 11 Shiv Sena MPs
The PIL was filed to disqualify 11 Shiv Sena MPs for allegedly force-feeding a fasting Muslim employee at the new Maharashtra Sadan
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New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an organisation called the Garib Nawaz Foundation (GNF) seeking action against the Shiv Sena and its members of Parliament (MPs) involved in force-feeding a Muslim catering supervisor at the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi who was fasting for Ramzan.
During their stay at new Maharashtra Sadan, the Shiv Sena MPs complained about the quality of food being served by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which had the catering contract at Maharashtra Sadan, and some of them tried to feed a chapati to Arshad Zubair, the catering supervisor. Videos of the incident were aired on television channels.
In the PIL filed in the Delhi high court, GNF had sought a suspension of these MPs from Parliament as well as the registration of criminal cases against them. The PIL also asked the high court to set up a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of a sitting judge of the high court to inquire into the matter and de-recognition of the Shiv Sena by the Election Commission.
The court noted that Zubair had not filed a complaint, but two complaints had already been received by the police about the incident and “appropriate action is being taken in accordance with law". The court also observed that a “statement had been made by the home minister terming the incident as regrettable and unfortunate and that the government should make constant efforts for maintaining religious harmony in the country".
A division bench of chief justice G. Rohini and justice Jayant Nath held that “initiation of proceedings by a third party under the garb of public interest litigation is not at all warranted".
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