The Crossbill Team
The Karnataka High Court has directed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC N. Ravikumar to offer a personal and direct apology to Kalaburagi deputy commissioner Fouzia Tarannum for his controversial remarks comparing her to someone from Pakistan.
The oral directive came during a hearing on Thursday, May 29, as a vacation bench led by Justice Suraj Govindaraj considered Ravikumar’s petition seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him.
Ravikumar made the remarks on May 24 during a BJP protest, where he accused the IAS officer of acting at the behest of the Congress party and went on to say that " She seems to have come from Pakistan."
The remark triggered widespread outrage, particularly among Muslim communities, with delegations of Muslim women demanding police action for the offensive and communal nature of his comments.
In response, the Karnataka police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by one Dattatreya Ikkalakhi.
Also read: FIR Filed Against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for 'Pakistan' Remark Against IAS Officer
The BJP leader was charged with inciting communal hatred, using derogatory language against public officials, and insulting members of the Scheduled Castes. He was also accused of making inflammatory remarks about District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the court criticised Ravikumar's comments as highly inappropriate, drawing parallels with recent Supreme Court observations in a similar case involving a minister from Madhya Pradesh.
"These are not the statements to be made. You have seen what happened in Madhya Pradesh and the Supreme Court, with a sitting minister, you are no different, you cannot be making such kind of statements," Justice Govindaraj remarked, as reported by Live Law.
Although Ravikumar's counsel informed the court that an apology had already been issued, the judge insisted that a proper apology must be made directly to the person offended — in this case, IAS officer Fouzia Tarannum — and that it must be accepted and formally recorded before any further relief could be considered.
“After making the statement the apology has to be accepted by the person. You make your apologies to the lady in question and let her accept it and you place it on record, and then we will consider this not until then,” the court said.
The court’s insistence on a direct apology underscores the judiciary’s stance against public figures making derogatory and communal remarks, particularly against civil servants.
The oral directive came during a hearing on Thursday, May 29, as a vacation bench led by Justice Suraj Govindaraj considered Ravikumar’s petition seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him.
Ravikumar made the remarks on May 24 during a BJP protest, where he accused the IAS officer of acting at the behest of the Congress party and went on to say that " She seems to have come from Pakistan."
The remark triggered widespread outrage, particularly among Muslim communities, with delegations of Muslim women demanding police action for the offensive and communal nature of his comments.
In response, the Karnataka police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by one Dattatreya Ikkalakhi.
Also read: FIR Filed Against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for 'Pakistan' Remark Against IAS Officer
The BJP leader was charged with inciting communal hatred, using derogatory language against public officials, and insulting members of the Scheduled Castes. He was also accused of making inflammatory remarks about District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the court criticised Ravikumar's comments as highly inappropriate, drawing parallels with recent Supreme Court observations in a similar case involving a minister from Madhya Pradesh.
"These are not the statements to be made. You have seen what happened in Madhya Pradesh and the Supreme Court, with a sitting minister, you are no different, you cannot be making such kind of statements," Justice Govindaraj remarked, as reported by Live Law.
Although Ravikumar's counsel informed the court that an apology had already been issued, the judge insisted that a proper apology must be made directly to the person offended — in this case, IAS officer Fouzia Tarannum — and that it must be accepted and formally recorded before any further relief could be considered.
“After making the statement the apology has to be accepted by the person. You make your apologies to the lady in question and let her accept it and you place it on record, and then we will consider this not until then,” the court said.
The court’s insistence on a direct apology underscores the judiciary’s stance against public figures making derogatory and communal remarks, particularly against civil servants.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment