INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - FEBRUARY 1st - FEBRUARY 15th
- 2008
SC TRANSFERS M F HUSAIN CASE TO DELHI
The Supreme Court has transferred a criminal case pending against noted artist MF Husain alleging slur on the religious sentiments of Hindus through his controversial paintings from a court in Maharashtra to Delhi.
A bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, Justice CK Thakker and Justice RV Raveendran directed for transfer of the case to a city court of the capital where two other similar cases were pending against him.
Senior Counsel Harish Salve appearing for Mr. Husain said that the controversial caption used in a book containing controversial paintings were not his work. Again, for the controversial paintings, the artist had already apologised, said Mr. Salve seeking transfer of the case from a court in Pandharpur to the capital.
The complaint case in Pandharpur had referred to a book titled Anti-Hindus published in 2003, which mentioned that Mr Husain’s paintings allegedly denigrated Hindu deities.
Mr. Salve further submitted that six criminal cases were pending against him in various courts across the country and it would be appropriate that a general order be passed that in future any complaint against his artistic work will be transferred to Delhi.
However, the court refused to pass any order on it.
Earlier, the apex court had stayed the Pandharpur court order issuing non-bailable warrant and proceedings against the painter. It had also issued notice to Dwaipayan Venkateshacharya Warkhedkar on whose complaint the trial court had started the proceedings against Mr. Husain.
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