Supreme Court Demands Swift Justice in Noida Hate Crime

The Supreme Court has taken a stern approach, giving the Uttar Pradesh government two weeks to enforce religion-based hate crime charges under Sections 153B and 295A of the Indian Penal Code. This action pertains to a 2021 incident where a Muslim cleric was allegedly assaulted in a moving van in Noida.

The cleric, Kazeem Ahmad Sherwani, reported in June 2021 that he was offered a lift by a group of men while traveling to Aligarh. Once in the van, the men reportedly began abusing him, pulling his beard, and removing his cap. The Court, led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in invoking these charges.

The case will be revisited on May 19, following the Court's previous mandate in February directing the Uttar Pradesh government to apply hate crime statutes. Sherwani claims initial refusals to register his complaint and demands a framework for compensation and accountability. The police had filed an FIR in January 2023, but only for intimidation and hurt.