Bombay High Court Dismisses CPI(M) Plea Over Gaza Rally

Download IPFS

In a firm ruling that reinforces the importance of prioritizing national issues, the Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), challenging Mumbai Police’s decision to deny permission for a pro-Gaza rally. The court advised the petitioners to focus on domestic issues, noting that the matter was not in the best interest of India’s public.

A division bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad heard the case. The petition aimed to overturn Mumbai Police’s decision to deny permission for a public gathering, organized by the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation, to protest the conflict in Gaza. The court said the matter was not directly connected to India’s public interest.

“Our country has enough issues. We don’t want anything like this,” the bench remarked during the hearing. “I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at issues in Gaza and Palestine. Look at your own country. Be patriots. This is not patriotism. The judges made it clear during the hearing that protests focused on international conflicts should not take precedence over domestic concerns.

 The court noted that public protests on foreign issues may face restrictions if not aligned with national interest.”While freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of India’s democratic framework, the court made it clear that such rights must be exercised with a sense of national duty and contextual awareness.

There were no reports of escalations or legal pushback from CPI(M) following the court’s decision. The ruling highlights the court’s preference for civic efforts that address domestic priorities.