Justice Sudip Ranjan Sen became a dominant topic of social media discussion on Wednesday because of his controversial judgement suggesting India should have become a Hindu nation in 1947 became public.
Justice Sen said in his judgement, “Pakistan declared themselves as an Islamic country and India since was divided on the basis of religion should have also been declared as a Hindu country but it remained as a secular country.” He didn’t stop here. The 61-year-old judge said that he had faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he thought will do the needful to prevent India from being an Islamic country.
“I make it clear that nobody should try to make India as another Islamic country, otherwise it will be a dooms day for India and the world. I am confident that only this Government under Shri. Narendra Modiji will understand the gravity, and will do the needful as requested above.”
He then addressed his ‘beloved Prime Minister’ to bring a law to allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Goras, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to live in India peacefully. He wrote, “Therefore, I request our beloved Prime Minister, Home Minister, Law Minister and Hon’ble Members of the Parliament to bring a law to allow the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to live in this country peacefully and with full dignity without making any cut off year and be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents. Similar principle should be taken to those who live in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They may be allowed to come at any point of time to settle in India and Government may provide rehabilitation properly and declare them citizens of India.”
The judge also extensively quoted from books by self-proclaimed RSS pracharak and now Governor of Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy, (My People Uprooted: The Exodus of Hindus from East Pakistan and Bangladesh) and by Dr. Dilip Lahiri, a retired professor. He said, “After reading those books, it really pains and hurts me and therefore I feel that I will fail in my duty if it is not brought to the notice of the common people and Government of India.” He added, “I make it clear that nobody should try to make India as another Islamic country, otherwise it will be a dooms day for India and the world.”
Tathagata Roy has often courted controversy for bringing the office of Governor to disrepute with his astonishing comments. Last year, Roy had condoned the genocide of Rohingya Muslims at the hands of the Burmese military and Buddhist terrorists in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
Social media users reacted angrily to Justice Sen’s controversial judgement and likened it to RSS literature. Journalist Ravi Nair wrote, ” I have read enough judgements and orders of HCs and SC. But, Meghalaya HC judge Justice RS Sen’s this judgement read more like an RSS literature.” He continued, “Was reading a 37 page judgement written by Meghalaya HC judge Justice SR Sen. In between, started to feel it is not judgement, but a RSS literature. By the way, Justice sen reads the books authored by people like Tathagata Roy.”
Author Salil Tripathi wrote, “The question that the Justice Sen episode raises is not why he has such a view – many garden variety bigots have similar views which they express with greater passion and poorer spelling – but how did he get where he did. It shows institutional failures.”
Advocate Ghulam Waris demanded Justice Sen’s immediate impeachment as he wrote, “Hon’ble Justice Mr S R Sen Meghalaya High Court deserves impeachment on passing this kind of judgement it’s horrible it’s completely against the Constitution of India #SupremeCourt should take sue moto on it, @PMOIndia @narendramodi @rashtrapatibhvn should take it very seriously.”
Journalist Samrat X asked, “I wonder what the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, Justice Md Yakoob Mir from Kashmir, thinks of Justice SR Sen’s pronouncements in favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill?”
