Jaipur, Oct 6 (IANS): The Jodhpur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has granted interim relief to Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal in connection with an FIR registered at Kuchera police station in Nagaur district.
The court has directed that no coercive action be taken against Beniwal in the matter. The order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Farjand Ali while hearing a petition filed by Beniwal challenging the proceedings against him.
During the hearing, the High Court observed that peaceful protest is a part of democratic rights. The court sought a response from the Rajasthan government and the police on the matter and fixed the next hearing after three weeks.
The case relates to a political rally held in Kuchera during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The allegations concern violation of prohibitory orders imposed by the administration at the time. An FIR was registered at Kuchera police station on May 4, 2024, on the basis of a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Mukesh Kumar. The case was registered under Sections 143, 147, 283 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The sections invoked in the FIR relate to allegations including unlawful assembly, disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant, and obstruction or danger in a public way.
During the hearing, Beniwal’s lawyers argued that the case arose from a political protest and that there were no allegations of violence or damage to public or private property.
The counsel submitted that the protest was part of a political activity during the election period and sought relief from coercive action in connection with the FIR.
After considering the submissions, the High Court granted interim protection to Beniwal and sought the response of the state government and police authorities.
The court’s observation that peaceful protest forms part of democratic rights is significant. However, the proceedings are still pending, and the court’s latest order is an interim relief rather than a final decision on the allegations.
