Court lifts ban on Hindu religious book

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday lifted the ban on the publication of the Hindu religious book "Satyarth Prakash" written by leading social reformer Swamy Dayanand Saraswati 135 years ago.

Quashing the ban imposed by a lower court, Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra rejected a submission to restrain the Sarvadeshik Press publication house from printing and distributing the book in any language.

The petition was filed by Usman Ghani and his friend alleging that the book hurts the religious sentiments of Muslims.

"It is not the province or duty of the court to pronounce the truthfulness of the religious books or to regulate the religious sentiments and feelings of the sections of the society,' Dhingra said.

"A suit by Hindus against the Quran or by Muslims against the Gita or Satyarth Prakash claiming relief...are in fact meant to play mischief in the society and by filing such suits they would get nothing but cheap publicity and create more disharmony and disturbance in the society," the judge observed.

Stating that Ghani and his friend, who claimed to have been public spirited persons, wanted to use their plea as a tool for cheap publicity, Dhingra said the lower court should not have entertained the suit.

Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, wrote 'Satyarth Prakash' to spread the knowledge of the Vedas and to educate people on the true qualities of God. The work contains expositions and clarifications of Vedic principles.