Sedition case against Bidar school in K’tka over play on anti-CAA-NRC dropped

Bengaluru: The sedition case filed against a school and its management in Karnataka's Bidar for staging a play criticizing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) has drawn criticism for the misuse of the treason law, as it resulted in the unnecessary detention of the widowed mother of a primary class student and the school headmistress.

After two years, the verdict of the Kalaburagi bench of the Karnataka High Court quashed the charges of sedition against the school management raised in a criminal petition filed.

The controversial case originated in 2020 when the Shaheen Primary School staged a play allegedly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CAA, and the NRC.

Following the play, the headmistress of the school, Fareeda Begum, and the widowed mother of one of the students, Anuja Minsa, were arrested based on a complaint filed by local activist Neelesh Rakshyal. The complaint invoked sections 124A (sedition) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The play, which portrayed the prevailing socio-political scenario in the country during ongoing protests, was subsequently posted on social media. Rakshyal alleged that the play aimed to fuel enmity between communities and accused the school management of committing an anti-national act.

Throughout the past two years, the case sparked controversies on multiple occasions. School authorities argued that the sedition charges had caused mental harassment and maintained that the play merely presented the current situation in the country.

In February 2020, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) chairman, Dr Antony Sebastian, criticized the "atmosphere of fear" surrounding the case and raised concerns about the treatment of the children involved.

Violations of child welfare norms were highlighted, including the separation of Anuja Minsa's nine-year-old child from her without proper notification to the local child welfare committee. Dr Sebastian also objected to the presence of uniformed officers during the children's questioning and the absence of guardians and parents at that time.

In August 2021, the Karnataka High Court expressed its concerns over the case, stating that it appeared to be a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act and a breach of child rights. The court pointed out photographs showing police personnel interrogating the children.

Wednesday's order by the Kalaburagi bench of the Karnataka High Court has now set aside the sedition charges against the school and its management. However, a detailed judgment regarding the matter is still awaited.

This decision brings relief to the accused parties, who had faced legal troubles and public scrutiny for their involvement in the play, also highlighting in the process the importance of upholding free expression and protecting the rights of children during legal proceedings.