Indian Supreme Court rules calling someone 'Pakistani' is not a crime

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that calling someone ‘Pakistani’ is not a criminal offense, though the term is considered offensive and undesirable.

The ruling comes amid frequent instances of right-wing extremists in India questioning the patriotism of Muslims by labeling them as 'Pakistanis'. However, the court clarified that such remarks do not constitute a criminal act.

The verdict was issued in a Jharkhand case, where a government employee was allegedly insulted with the words “Pakistani” and “Miyan Tian”.

The court determined that these terms do not amount to a criminal threat or physical assault, and therefore, the accused cannot be punished.

Legal analysts have criticized the decision, arguing that it could create an unnecessary distinction between hate speech and offensive remarks.

Some experts fear that the ruling might embolden right-wing extremists and further fuel religious intolerance.

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The case originated in Chas, Jharkhand, where an Urdu translator and government employee filed a complaint against Harinandan Singh, accusing him of verbal abuse and religious discrimination.

A lower court had initially registered a case against Singh, which was later upheld by the Rajasthan High Court.

However, the Supreme Court ultimately dismissed all charges, stating that the use of such words is not a punishable offense.

The ruling could raise concerns about rising hate speech in India, as it may provide a legal shield for discriminatory remarks.

Critics argue that the decision fails to acknowledge the larger issue of communal targeting, particularly against India’s Muslim minority.