'How Can This Court Comment Upon Affairs Of Another Country?:' Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain PIL To Protect Hindus In Bangladesh

The Supreme Court today (February 24) declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation seeking the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh from violence targeted at minority communities. 

The bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the PIL filed by Rajesh Dhanda, the Chairman of Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav Committee, Ludhiana, who is also the Vice Chairman of the ISKCON Mandir Steering Board. 

The bench at the outset refused to interfere in the issues of foreign affairs and internal developments of the neighbouring country. The CJI said: 

"It pertains to foreign affairs.....how can this court comment upon the affairs of another country? It would be so odd if this Court interferes with another country, that too a neighbour!" 

On the advice of the bench, Sr Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the Petitioner withdrew the PIL. The bench recorded the following order : 

"Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, learned senior counsel, appearing for the petitioner, seeks permission to withdraw the present writ petition and states that the petitioner may approach the Government."

"Recording the aforesaid, the writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn."

The petitioner additionally sought (1) an extension of the deadline for submitting applications for seeking citizenship to Bangladesh-fled Hindus; (2) direction to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to provide aid and assistance to Hindu minorities in Bangladesh through the High Commission stationed there; (3) need to create global pressure on Bangladesh as per the International Law to stop the ongoing atrocities against the minorities in the neighbouring state. 

Case Details : RAJESH DHANDA Versus UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ORS| W.P.(C) No. 153/2025  

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