The Gauhati High Court on Thursday sought a response from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a set of public interest litigations accusing him of making “hate speech” and “communal comments” targeting the Miya community. The court also issued notices to the state government and the Director General of Police, directing them to file replies before the next hearing on March 21.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury heard three separate petitions raising concerns over the chief minister’s alleged remarks. Apart from issuing notices, the court did not pass any interim directions.
One of the petitions was filed on February 24 by noted Assamese litterateur Hiren Gohain, former Director General of Police Harekrishna Deka, and senior journalist Paresh Malakar. Two other petitions were moved earlier, on February 21, by the CPI and CPI(M), both seeking a restraint on the chief minister from making such statements.
Advocate Santanu Borthakur, who assisted counsel for one of the petitioners, said the court has asked all respondents to submit their replies before the next date of hearing and has not issued any additional orders at this stage.
The issue comes days after the Supreme Court, on February 16, declined to entertain petitions seeking action against Sarma over a viral video purportedly showing him aiming and firing a rifle at members of a particular community.
The term “Miya” has historically been used as a pejorative for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, often associated in public discourse with allegations of illegal immigration. In recent years, however, sections of the community have begun reclaiming the term as an assertion of identity.
The high court will take up the matter again on March 21.
