SC: Calling someone 'Pakistani' is in poor taste but not a crime

SC SAID REMARKS MADE WERE INAPPROPRIATE BUT DID NOT MEET LEGAL THRESHOLD TO ESTABLISH AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 298 OF IPC

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has held that using terms such as "Miyan-Tiyan" (a pejorative aimed at Muslims by some) or "Pakistani" may be in poor taste but does not constitute a criminal offence, and quashed a criminal case against an 80-year-old man accused of making such remarks.

"The appellant is accused of hurting the religious feelings of the informant by calling him "Miyan-Tiyan" and "Pakistani". Undoubtedly, the statements made are poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant," noted a bench comprising justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma.