{"id":347840,"date":"2025-05-15T09:30:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T04:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=347840"},"modified":"2025-05-22T10:14:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T04:44:50","slug":"mp-hc-takes-suo-motu-action-against-bjp-minister-vijay-shah-for-using-scurrilous-language-against-col-sofia-quraishi-an-army-officer-scc-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/05\/15\/mp-hc-takes-suo-motu-action-against-bjp-minister-vijay-shah-for-using-scurrilous-language-against-col-sofia-quraishi-an-army-officer-scc-times\/","title":{"rendered":"MP High Court takes suo motu action against BJP Minister Vijay Shah for using \u2018scurrilous language\u2019 against Col. Sofia Quraishi"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Madhya Pradesh High Court:<\/span> While taking suo motu cognizance based on media reports (Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar, Nayi Duniya — all dated 14-05-2025) and video footage circulating on digital platforms regarding a disparaging speech made by a sitting BJP minister Vijay Shah, against Col. Sofia Quraishi, a senior officer of the Indian Army, a Division Bench of Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla, JJ., directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Madhya Pradesh, to register an FIR against Minster Vijay Shah by the evening of 14-05-2025, under Sections 152<\/a>, 196(1)(b)<\/a>, and 197(1)(c)<\/a> of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023<\/a> (BNS).<\/p>\n

Factual Matrix<\/h3>\n

In the instant matter, during a public function at Raikunda village in Ambedkar Nagar at Mhow, BJP minster Vijay Shah used scurrilous and offensive language against Col. Sofia Quraishi. She, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, was representing the Armed Forces in media briefings related to Operation “Sindoor”, an operation launched by India against Pakistan.<\/p>\n

At the event, the minister referred to Col. Quraishi as the ‘sister of the terrorists’<\/span> involved in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 Indian civilians were killed. He also made reference to the Prime Minister and stated that Mr. Modi had “sent the sister of the terrorists to sort them out.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Court’s Analysis<\/h3>\n

The Court recognised that the armed forces are the last institution in the country still seen as a symbol of “integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage.”<\/span> The Court described the minister’s comments as “language of the gutters<\/span>” and “disparaging and dangerous, not just to the officer in question but to the armed forces itself<\/span>.” The Court stated that such statements are not only derogatory to the individual officer but strike at the core values of the Armed Forces and the idea of India itself.<\/p>\n