SC Declines To Entertain Plea Seeking Protection Of Hindus In Bangladesh, Says, “It pertains to foreign affairs”

While declining to entertain a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) seeking protection of Hindus in Bangladesh from targeted minority community violence, the Supreme Court (SC) bench said that the issue pertains to foreign affairs. It said, “It pertains to foreign affairs.....how can this court comment upon the affairs of another country? It would be so odd if this Court interferes with another country, that too a neighbor!” The matter was heard by a two-judge bench constituting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. The PIl was filed by Rajesh Dhanda, the Chairman of Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav Committee, Ludhiana, who is also the Vice Chairman of the ISKCON Mandir Steering Board. After hearing the matter, the bench refused to entertain the PIL, and on the advice of the SC bench Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the petitioner, withdrew the PIL. The top court’s order read as follows:

“Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, learned senior counsel, appearing for the petitioner, seeks permission to withdraw the present writ petition and states that the petitioner may approach the Government.

Recording the aforesaid, the writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn.”