The Supreme Court has rejected the demand for re -banning the novel ‘The Satanic Verses’. The petitioner said that due to the order of the Delhi High Court that came last year, this book has become available in India. This is a matter of hurting religious sentiments. But the judges did not consider the petition to be considered.
In 1988, there was a lot of controversy on this book by British writer Salman Rushdie. Islamic leaders from all over the world, including Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, protested, describing this book as criticism of the Quran. The things written in this book were termed as blasphemy. After this, the then Rajiv Gandhi government had banned its imports, fearing the law and order deteriorating in India from this book.
In 2019, the petitioner knocked on the Delhi High Court door
In 2019, a petitioner named Sandipan Khan approached the Delhi High Court. He said that the ban on the book prevents them from importing books from international publishers or online vendors. This is a violation of their rights. The High Court sought information about the notification under which the book was banned.
During the High Court hearing, the Central Board of Customs (CBIC) or any other concerned agency could not present a copy of the alleged notification issued under the Customs Act, 1962. Finally in November 2024, the High Court said, ‘No one could present the notification of October 5, 1988 at the hearing which lasted 5 years. In such a situation, there is no option but to believe that no notification exists. We cannot investigate its validity. Therefore, considering the petition as ineffective, they are closing.
Petition filed in Supreme Court against High Court order
In its order, the High Court allowed the petitioner to import ‘The Satanic Verses’ to India. After this order, the book became easily available in India. Against this, a petitioner named Mohammad Arshad Mohammad Jamal Khan filed a petition in the Supreme Court.
On Friday (September 26, 2025), the case came in the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. The judges found that the petition has been filed as a new PIL. But through this, the order of the High Court in a case is being challenged. After this, the Supreme Court refused to consider this petition filed through lawyer Chand Qureshi.
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