Dharm Sansad: Hindu Religious Leaders Flay ‘Divisive’ Event; Contempt Petition Filed in SC

On December 16, 2024, a contempt petition had been filed to bring to the Supreme Court’s attention the failure of authorities in Uttar Pradesh to stop an upcoming event called the “Dharam Sansad”. The said event, scheduled to take place from December 17 to 21, 2024 in Ghaziabad, is being organised by individuals who have a history of making hateful and inflammatory speeches against the Muslim community. The petition highlights that these speeches and the event itself promote hatred and could lead to communal violence.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed authorities to take immediate action against such hate speeches and events, even if no formal complaint was made. However, despite clear announcements about the “Dharam Sansad” and its harmful content being shared publicly, the authorities have failed to act. This petition calls for the Court to intervene and ensure that the law is enforced, so as to prevent any further spread of hate and violence.

Not only through legal means, many religious organisations have also condemned the scheduled event. The Satya Dharam Samvad (SDS), a collective of 62 prominent Hindu Acharyas, has also spoken against the divisive nature of the proposed “Dharam Sansad,” calling for its rejection and emphasising the need for unity, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue. In a statement, they expressed concern over the misuse of religion to incite hatred and violence, reaffirming that Hinduism, with its core principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and Sarva Dharma Sambhava (equal respect for all religions), stands for peace, acceptance, and harmony.

Satya Dharam Samvad condemns the “Dharam Sansad” and calls for unity

The Satya Dharam Samvad (SDS), an organisation of Hindu Acharyas, has called upon Hindu religious leaders and organisations to reject the divisive “Dharam Sansad” proposed by the Yati Narsinghanand Foundation, scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Saturday at the Shiv-Shakti temple complex in Ghaziabad’s Dasna. In a joint statement signed by 62 Acharyas, including prominent figures like Swami Raghavendra, Acharya Bajrang, Mahant, Prof. Anantanand Rambachan, Ashok Maharaj Kamble, and Ashok Sangpa, the SDS emphasised the importance of promoting unity, tolerance, and dialogue over hatred and division.

The statement expressed deep concern over the increasing misuse of religion to spread violence and discord, urging a return to the foundational values of Hinduism – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and Sarva Dharma Sambhava (equal respect for all religions). It affirmed that Hinduism has always stood for peace, acceptance, and harmony, rejecting caste-based divisions and any form of oppression. True spirituality, the signatories asserted, lies in recognising the divine presence in all beings and fostering mutual respect.

The SDS also criticised the “World Religion Convention” and the provocative speeches targeting specific faiths that are being promoted as part of the upcoming event. These actions, they argued, are a departure from the true essence of Sanatan Dharma, undermining its spiritual sanctity while threatening the harmony of the nation. The statement firmly condemned words or actions that promote hatred, disrespect other religions, or incite violence, calling such behaviour completely at odds with Hindu principles.

Calling for interfaith understanding and peaceful coexistence, the SDS urged religious leaders to oppose the exploitation of religion for political or divisive purposes. They also called on the authorities to take accountability and ensure that religion is not misused to fuel division. The signatories appealed for unity, urging Hindus and people of all faiths to come together with kindness and mutual respect, recognising that India’s true strength lies in its diversity and shared harmony.

The press release may be read here.

Details of the petition

Background: The petition had been filed before the Supreme Court of India under Article 129 of the Constitution, read with Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The petition arises from the deliberate and wilful disobedience of two specific orders passed by the Supreme Court: the order dated October 21, 2022 in Shaheen Abdulla v. Union of India & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 940/2022) and the order dated April 28, 2023 in Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 943/2021). These orders had directed state authorities to take suo- motu action against hate speech or activities that attract offences under Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, and 505 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC), even in the absence of formal complaints. The orders further clarified that any hesitation or delay in complying with these directions would amount to contempt of court.

The petition states that despite these explicit directives, the petition highlights that the authorities in Uttar Pradesh, including the Commissioner of Police, District Magistrate, and Director General of Police, have failed to act against an upcoming event titled “Dharam Sansad,” scheduled to take place from December 17 to 21 at Shiv Shakti Dham, Dasna, Ghaziabad. The event, organised by the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation, has been widely publicised through a website titled worldreligiousconvention.org. The website and the event itself are rooted in incendiary, communal content that openly propagates hate against the Muslim community, posing a direct threat to constitutional values of secularism and fraternity. The contempt petition seeks immediate judicial intervention to prevent this event and hold the respondents accountable for their failure to comply with the Supreme Court’s earlier orders.

The content of the event and its communal nature: The petition brings to the Court’s attention the blatantly inflammatory and communal nature of the content being disseminated through the website promoting the “Dharam Sansad” event. The petition provides that the mission statement of the event openly declares:

“The World Religious Parliament is a meaningful initiative to warn the whole world about the danger of Islam and it is an effort to bring together every Non-Muslim of all over the countries.”

Further, the petition also provides the vision statement that outlines an explicit and dangerous agenda:

“Our goal is to free the entire world from Islamic Jihad. This is our specific goal and to achieve this goal, we will take all possible steps.”

In addition to the website’s content, the petition underscores that provocative and hateful language has been used in public speeches made by the event organisers, event as the announcement of the Dharam Sansad was being made. As per the petition, Yati Ramswaroopanand, one of the key figures associated with the event, delivered a speech in Dehradun on September 10, 2024, describing Muslims as “not human” and calling for Uttarakhand to be made “Islam mukt.” He further urged Hindus to “keep good weapons and learn how to use them.” The petition provides supporting material, including transcripts, screenshots, and reports, to substantiate these claims.

The petition emphasises that the dissemination of such incendiary content and the planned congregation of individuals with a documented history of hate speech is not only a violation of Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, and 505 of the IPC but also strikes at the core of India’s constitutional values of secularism, harmony, and fraternity.

Track record of violence and state inaction: The contempt petition goes beyond the immediate concern of the “Dharam Sansad” and highlights the troubling track record of the individuals involved in organising and promoting the event. Individuals like Yati Narsinghanand and Yati Ramswaroopanand have repeatedly made provocative speeches inciting communal violence. For instance:

• In October 2024, Darshan Bharati, another organiser of the “Dharam Sansad,” instigated a violent rally in Uttarkashi, where stones were thrown at the police, injuring 27 people, including police personnel.
• In September 2024, a speech delivered by Yati Narsinghanand in western Uttar Pradesh, against Prophet Mohammad, led to mass protests and violence in the region.
• In 2023, in Purola, Uttarkashi, a false “love jihad” narrative was used to incite violence, leading to attacks on Muslim-owned shops and the forced displacement of Muslim families. Subsequent court findings revealed that the case was fabricated, yet no action was taken against the instigators.

The petition highlights that despite a well-documented history of hate speech and communal violence directly linked to these individuals, the state authorities have failed to take preventive action or register FIRs, as mandated by the Supreme Court. This consistent inaction emboldens the organisers and poses an imminent threat to communal harmony in the region.

The petition argues that the respondents’ failure to act constitutes not just a dereliction of duty but a wilful disobedience of the Supreme Court’s orders. By ignoring repeated provocations and open announcements of such events, the state authorities are in clear contempt of court.

Legal basis and prayer for relief: The petition places heavy reliance on two recent judgments of the Supreme Court to strengthen its legal argument. In Chaduranga Kanthraj URS v. P. Ravi Kumar (2024), the Court clarified that wilful disobedience—deliberate and intentional disregard of court orders—constitutes civil contempt. Similarly, in Celir LLP v. Sumati Prasad Bafna (2024), the Court expanded the scope of contempt, holding that any act intended to undermine the judicial process also falls within its ambit. The petition argues that the respondents’ failure to prevent the “Dharam Sansad” event, despite its provocative and unconstitutional nature, directly undermines the Court’s authority and frustrates its earlier orders.

The petition concludes with the following prayers:

1. To initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents for their deliberate non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders dated October 12, 2022 and April 28, 2023.
2. To issue immediate directions to the respondents to take legal action against the organisers, speakers, and promoters of the “Dharam Sansad” event. This includes issuing prohibitory orders to prevent the event from taking place and registering FIRs against those involved.
3. To pass any other relief that the Court may deem necessary to uphold its authority, safeguard public order, and protect constitutional values.

The petition emphasises that the Court’s intervention is not only necessary to address the specific case of non-compliance but also to reaffirm the rule of law and the constitutional mandate of secularism and fraternity. By allowing such events to proceed unchecked, the respondents are enabling the erosion of these values and endangering communal harmony across the nation. The petition, therefore, calls upon the Court to take strong and decisive action to ensure compliance with its earlier orders and prevent further escalation of hate speech and violence.

A detailed report on the widespread opposition that the Dharam Sansad is facing can be read here.