‘What sort of statements are you making? You are a responsible minister of the government,’ Chief Justice of India BR Gavai told the Madhya Pradesh minister
NEW DELHI – Refusing interim relief to Madhya Pradesh minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah, the Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded him for his irresponsible and objectionable remarks targeting Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi.
Every word uttered by a minister has to be with a sense of responsibility at a time when the country was passing through “such a situation”, the Supreme Court said.
“What sort of statements are you making? You are a responsible minister of the government,” Chief Justice of India BR Gavai told Shah. The bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, will on Friday hear Shah’s plea challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s May 14 order directing the filing of an FIR against him for his comments on a decorated army officer targeting her Muslim identity.
Addressing a public gathering in Mhow earlier this week, referring to Operation Sindoor, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
HC Slams ‘Poorly-Drafted’ FIR
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday sharply rebuked state authorities on the “poorly-drafted” FIR filed against Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah and said that it will monitor the investigation.
The court expressed its “dissatisfaction” with the content of the FIR filed at Manpur Police Station, Indore (Rural) against the minister’s offensive remarks against Col Qureshi.
The minister allegedly referred to Col Qureshi as the “sister of terrorists,” prompting “suo motu” judicial intervention to ensure the investigation is conducted fairly and impartially.
During Thursday’s hearing, a division bench comprising Justices Atul Shridharan and Anuradha Shukla strongly criticised the handling of the case, characterising the initial FIR as a “mere formality”.
The court emphasised that essential legal provisions have not been included despite explicit instructions issued by the court the previous day.
Given the apparent deficiencies in the FIR, the court deemed judicial monitoring necessary to prevent undue influence or external pressure from compromising the integrity of the investigation.
Justice Sridharan said that the hearing in this case will be held after summer vacations.
On Wednesday, taking suo motu cognisance, the high court condemned Shah’s statement, describing his remarks as highly objectionable and inappropriate.
In its detailed eight-page order, the bench underscored the vital role of the Indian Army, recognising it as one of the nation’s last standing institutions that symbolise discipline, integrity, and sacrifice.
Consequently, the court directed the immediate registration of an FIR against the minister, warning that non-compliance would result in contempt proceedings against the Director General of Police.
In response to the court’s directive, the police registered an FIR at Manpur Police Station in Mhow on Wednesday night at approximately 11.27 pm. – With inputs from IANS
