Religious people in power yield good results : Justice Ravi Kumar Diwakar, Bareilly District Court

Cites the example of CM Yogi Adityanath as a religious person

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) – Justice Ravi Kumar Diwakar of Bareilly Court observed during the hearing of a communal riot case of 2010, that if the leaders in power are religious, that has a good effect. He cited the example of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Court has issued a summons to Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, a prominent cleric belonging to the Barelvi sect and being the mastermind of the communal riots of 2010. The next hearing of this case will be held on 11th March 2024. Justice Diwakar, while posted in Varanasi in 2022, had ordered a Court-monitored survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex for which he received threats. He has been provided security since then, he informed.

What did the Court say ?    

Justice Ravi Kumar Diwakar said, “When a religious person is at the centre of power, it has a good effect. Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, said it in his book titled ‘Republic’. Presently, the concept of justice is used in the context of law, but during Plato’s time, the term justice was used in the context of religion. A religious person should, therefore, be at the centre of power since his life is one of ‘sacrifice and dedication’ and not living in luxury, for example, the Siddha Peeth Gorakhnath Temple’s ‘Pithadheeshwar’ Mahant Baba Yogi Adityanath, who is presently the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has proved the above concept to be true.”

I have to think many times before leaving the house due to threats ! – Justice Diwakar

Referring to the Gyanvapi issue, Justice Diwakar said that a letter threatening him was received after he granted permission for the survey. Since then, there has been an atmosphere of fear in his family. I cannot describe it in words. Every member of the family is worried about the safety of the other members. We have to think many times before leaving the house. (Religious fanatics don’t accept a verdict when it is given in favour of Hindus, and they threaten judges. Please note that the people, who claim ‘Muslims are unsafe in India’, conveniently ignore such incidents ! – Editor).

Editorial Perspective

Dharma brings stability to an individual’s life, which helps increase efficiency. It also makes the individual more principled and honest. Though the Honourable Justice is pointing at this, this applies only to Hindus and Hindu Dharma. Considering the history, teachings and nature of other religions, could this rule be applied to them ?