The Chhattisgarh High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a professor of Guru Ghasidas Central University (GGU) in Bilaspur, which sought to quash an FIR registered against him and others for allegedly forcing some students to offer namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp on March 30 last year.
Court's Ruling on the Petition
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal observed that claims of a frivolous or vexatious FIR must be tested only at trial. The court rejected the petition filed by Dilip Jha, a 45-year-old professor and project coordinator at GGU, stating that the case does not warrant extraordinary intervention under BNSS Section 528, as a chargesheet has already been filed following an investigation.
Arguments Presented by Professor Jha
Jha argued that he held only an administrative role and was absent during the alleged incident, asserting that there was no evidence linking him to the event. However, the court leaned in favor of the state counsel's argument, noting that Jha's anticipatory bail and defenses, such as his absence at the time of the incident, could be brought up during cross-examination. The bench emphasized that interference at this stage would amount to pre-judging issues of fact.
Details of the Incident
The controversy stems from a seven-day NSS camp held from March 26 to April 1, 2025, at Shivtarai in Bilaspur's Kota, which saw the participation of 159 students. Astik Sahu, a 21-year-old resident of Patel Hostel, filed a police complaint on April 14, 2025, alleging that on March 30, which coincided with Eid-ul-Fitr, four Muslim students were called on stage to offer namaz, and others were compelled to join against their wishes. Students who were unwilling to comply were reportedly threatened with cancellation of their certificates.
A preliminary probe implicated Professor Jha and some other faculty members. An FIR was lodged on April 26 under BNS sections 196(1)(b), 197(1)(b)(c), 299, 302, and 190, pertaining to criminal conspiracy, murder (likely abetment), and promoting enmity. A chargesheet was filed against the professor and other accused faculty members on May 29, 2025. A judicial magistrate first class in Kota took cognizance of the chargesheet on October 7.
The high court's decision underscores that the veracity of the allegations and the defenses raised by the accused will be determined during the trial, not at the stage of quashing the FIR.
