Javed Ahmad Hajam vs The State Of Maharashtra

insc-2024-187 Supreme Court of India 7 March 2024 • CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.886 OF 2024; Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No.11122 of 2023 • 13 min read

Judges (2)

Parties (2)

Case Significance

Javed Ahmad Hajam vs The State Of Maharashtra is a Supreme Court of India decision dated March 7, 2024 (citation: insc-2024-187). A professor from Kashmir working at a college in Kolhapur was charged under Section 153-A IPC for posting images on his WhatsApp status during August 13-15, 2022, including the Pakistani flag alongside the Indian flag and wishing Pakistan Independence Day. The Supreme Court quashed the FIR, holding that the WhatsApp status did not promote disharmony or enmity between religious groups, and emphasized the need to sensitize police about the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of The bench comprised Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan. The judgment was delivered by Justice Abhay S. Oka.

Summary

A professor from Kashmir working at a college in Kolhapur was charged under Section 153-A IPC for posting images on his WhatsApp status during August 13-15, 2022, including the Pakistani flag alongside the Indian flag and wishing Pakistan Independence Day. The Supreme Court quashed the FIR, holding that the WhatsApp status did not promote disharmony or enmity between religious groups, and emphasized the need to sensitize police about the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

What was the outcome of Javed Ahmad Hajam vs The State Of Maharashtra?

A professor from Kashmir working at a college in Kolhapur was charged under Section 153-A IPC for posting images on his WhatsApp status during August 13-15, 2022, including the Pakistani flag alongsid...

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official India Courts portal.

Read on Indian Kanoon

Source: Indian Kanoon (insc-2024-187)