Delhi HC seeks response from Pranab Mukherjee on petition demanding deletion of book contents related to Ayodhya issue

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the former President Pranab Mukherjee seeking a response on a plea demanding deletion of some contents related to the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya of his 2016 book. Issuing notice to the former President, Justice Pratibha M Singh listed the matter for further hearing on July 30.

The plea in the high court was against the lower court’s order of November 30, 2016 that rejected the plea demanding deletion of some portions from the book ‘Turbulent Years 1980-1996’. The case in the trial court was filed by a social worker UC Pandey and a group of lawyers for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. They objected to certain references in the book regarding the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

The counsel, who appeared for the plaintiffs, contended that the lower court wrongly dismissed the suit on the ground that there was no cause of action.

Before the high court, he argued that he stressed on the need for action when the book was published and as well as after September 5, 2016 when the two-month of the notice issued by the plaintiffs for deletion of portions of the book had passed by.

Before trial court, The complainant’s counsel had argued that a civil suit can be filed even against the President during tenure regarding of any act done by him in his ‘personal capacity’.

Opposing the plea before trial court, the President’s counsel said it was not maintainable.